From pilot to policy: waste picker-led circularity model scales to 12 Indian cities

Saamuhika Shakti began as a small pilot in 2021. It has now grown into a citywide system centred on inclusive circularity and operated by waste pickers. A central textile recovery facility works hand-in-hand with 16 neighbourhood sorting centres that process post-consumer textile waste that would otherwise end up in landfills.  

As awareness builds, public participation is accelerating. A recent campaign led by BBC Media Action under the slogan Got Old Clothes helped double the city’s textile collections in just one month, diverting over 1,100 kilograms of used clothing from landfill.

The initiative is developed by Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF) and implemented by Hasiru Dala. The textile-specific project aims to divert 800,000 kilograms of post-consumer textile waste and support 500 waste picker livelihoods by 2026. Progress is ahead of schedule: 55 percent of the waste diversion target is already achieved, with more than 400 waste pickers supported so far. Its success lies in a collaborative design where municipal authorities, NGOs, and waste picker collectives jointly set the terms, ensuring shared ownership and long-term viability.

“What makes this model so powerful is that it’s not a top-down solution. 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”, says Maria Bystedt, Programme Director at H&M Foundation.

We’re seeing that when waste pickers are recognised as essential climate actors, cities can build solutions that scale and inspire new models of inclusive circularity globally.

Maria Bystedt

Now, the model is being scaled nationally. The system pioneered in Bengaluru is currently being replicated and implemented in 12 additional Indian cities, positioning waste pickers as central actors in India’s circular transformation.

Our multi-partner initiative Saamuhika Shakti is a holistic ecosystem of eleven organisations aiming to equip informal waste pickers in India to lift themselves out of poverty. In order to succeed we involve the waste picker community helping us define the different intervention areas and we bring together diverse partners from different sectors, using the Collective Impact Method. All partners are bringing their expertise into the collective effort, working towards common goals.