Where to donate and recycle old clothes in Bengaluru

Clothes mostly end up in landfills, and they don't just disappear. They release methane (a greenhouse gas more potent than CO₂) and leach dyes and chemicals into the soil. Fast fashion fabrics like polyester can take hundreds of years to decompose. That old t-shirt you tossed could outlive you. 👀 You can divert them from the landfill by donating to someone in need or getting them recycled or upcycled.

Goonj (Kudlu Gate, Singasandra), The Imagine Trust's Clothes Bank (Electronic City) and Saahas (Kasa Rasa 2 in Koramangala, BTM Layout) all take clothes at their drop-off points.

So do Gudswap (Banaswadi), EcoDhaga (Koramangala), Reclaim Era (Prakruthi Nagar, RK Hegde Nagar) and the Wall of Happyness donation boxes at Nexus malls. Rather not step out? See home pick-up below. 💚

Depends on the organisation. 👕 Good condition stuff goes to delivery workers, orphanages, old age homes, flood relief, etc. ♻️ Worn-out pieces get recycled or upcycled into new fabrics, bags, or stuffing material. 💸 Some organisations sell at minimal cost to sustain operations. What happens to yours depends on who you give it to, so check their listing if you want to know.

Before donating: ✅ Wash and dry completely. ✅ Check pockets (you'll be surprised what turns up). ✅ Separate wearable from torn ones. ✅ Pack neatly in a bag or box. 💚 Bonus: tuck in a little note of kindness if you'd like. It might make someone's day.

Nope! Dropping clothes off is usually free. For doorstep pickup, NoKasa and Ecocrew list free pickup in Bengaluru; others charge a fee that goes toward transport, sorting and wages for local workers. Each listing shows its price.

Yes! NoKasa, Ecocrew, Reclaim Era and EcoDhaga collect old clothes from your doorstep in Bengaluru. NoKasa and Ecocrew list their pickup as free.

Tooused, Respun, Clothes Box Foundation and Share At Door Step also pick up across India, Bengaluru included, for a fee. Check the listings above to compare prices and book.

They can still be useful, though let's be honest: not everything can be worn again. If they're clean but unwearable, they're sent for textile recycling or upcycling. Your old denim could turn into a tote bag. Just avoid sending soiled, wet, or mouldy clothes.

Yes! Gudswap, NoKasa and The Imagine Trust help societies and offices in Bengaluru run collection drives, and list them as free. Share At Door Step and EcoDhaga organise drives too.

It's a great way to get neighbours or colleagues involved in something that actually feels real (and clears clutter).

Wearable old clothes can go to Goonj, The Imagine Trust, Gudswap, Saahas or the Wall of Happyness at Nexus malls, so someone else gets to use them.

Worn-out or torn ones are better off recycled. Saahas Zero Waste runs a textile recovery facility in Gottigere, and Respun and EcoDhaga take textiles for recycling too.