From margins to mainstream: Waste picker-led circularity model expands to 12 Indian cities

By A Representative 

In a groundbreaking development that aligns environmental action with social equity, a textile waste recycling initiative led by informal waste workers in Bengaluru has scaled from a local pilot to a national model. The project, part of the broader Saamuhika Shakti programme, is now being replicated in 12 cities across India—demonstrating that circularity can be both climate-positive and socially inclusive when rooted in community leadership.

Launched in 2021, the initiative has evolved into a robust textile recovery system centered on a network of waste pickers who manage and operate 16 neighborhood sorting centres, supported by a central textile recovery facility. This infrastructure enables the processing of post-consumer textile waste that would otherwise clog landfills, while also creating dignified livelihoods for hundreds of waste pickers.

Public engagement has surged thanks to campaigns such as “Got Old Clothes?”, led by BBC Media Action, which doubled the city’s textile collections in just one month. Over 1,100 kilograms of used clothing were diverted from landfills during the campaign, marking a pivotal shift in urban waste behavior.

The project is developed by the Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF) and implemented on the ground by Hasiru Dala, a Bengaluru-based waste picker collective. With support from the H&M Foundation, the textile initiative targets the diversion of 800,000 kilograms of post-consumer textile waste and the empowerment of 500 waste pickers by 2026. More than 400 waste pickers have already been integrated into the system, and 55% of the waste diversion target has been achieved—well ahead of schedule.

“What makes this model so powerful is that it’s not a top-down solution,” said Maria Bystedt, Programme Director at H&M Foundation. “It’s been co-created with waste pickers, who know the problem best. It proves that circularity isn’t just about materials or recycling tech; it’s about how we design systems that are inclusive, effective, and climate-resilient.”

The success of the Bengaluru model lies in its collaborative governance. Waste picker collectives, municipal authorities, and NGOs co-create and co-manage the initiative, ensuring long-term sustainability and shared accountability. As it expands nationally, the model positions waste pickers as essential actors in India’s climate response and circular economy transition.

Saamuhika Shakti, funded by the H&M Foundation, is a multi-stakeholder initiative running from 2020 to 2026 with a total investment of over USD 21 million across two phases. It includes partners such as Bal Raksha Bharat, BBC Media Action, CAIF, Enviu, Hasiru Dala, Sambhav Foundation, Sattva Consulting, Social Alpha, Sparsha Trust, Udhyam Learning Foundation, and WaterAid India.

By scaling community-designed solutions, the programme is redefining both sustainability and social justice—placing India’s waste pickers at the heart of its urban transformation.