Where to donate and recycle old clothes in Kolkata

You have several reliable options across the city. Goonj runs staffed collection centres in Topsia, Bhowanipore, Salt Lake, Sector V and Tollygunge. Aspire and Glee run a Free Clothes Bank in Santoshpur, and Responsible Charity's Clothes for Help programme takes clothes in Jadavpur. Every drop-off point we list is shown above with its area and what it accepts.

Yes. Aspire and Glee run a Free Clothes Bank in Santoshpur: they collect donated clothes and give them, free of cost, to people who need them. It is one of the most direct ways to make sure your clothes reach someone quickly. Check their listing above for the address and contact.

Yes. A few national services listed here pick up donated clothes from Kolkata addresses, and My Children Foundation in Kasba can arrange a pickup in exceptional cases. This helps if you have several bags or live somewhere like New Town or Behala where reaching a centre is a hassle. Check each listing for coverage and whether a small fee applies.

Yes, and winter is the best time for it. Hope Kolkata Foundation specifically accepts woollens, blankets, towels and bed sheets alongside regular clothes, and Goonj takes warm clothing too. Anything too worn to wear can still go to a recycler. Check the "what they accept" details in each listing above.

Clothes too torn or stained to wear, like old curtains, frayed denim or worn bedsheets, do not need to go in the bin. My Children Foundation reuses, recycles and repurposes pre-loved clothing, and textile recyclers listed here process fabric into fresh fibres, stuffing or industrial rags. Check the listings above for who accepts worn-out items for recycling.

Yes. Goonj and Hope Kolkata Foundation both accept home textiles such as sarees, bedsheets, curtains and towels alongside clothes. Anything too worn to reuse can still go to a recycler. Policies vary, so check the "what they accept" details in each listing above.

Before you hand them over: ✅ Wash and dry everything completely. ✅ Check the pockets (you will be surprised what turns up). ✅ Separate wearable clothes from the torn ones so NGOs and recyclers can sort faster. ✅ Pack them neatly in a bag or box. 💚 The cleaner and better sorted your donation, the quicker it reaches someone who needs it.

It depends on their condition. 👕 Wearable clothes go to families in need, workers, shelters and children's homes in and around the city. ♻️ Worn-out pieces go to recyclers and are turned into rags, stuffing or new yarn. 💸 Some organisations run dignity stores where people pick what they need. Almost nothing is wasted as long as it reaches them clean.

Dropping clothes off at a centre or a free clothes bank is free. Doorstep pickup services may charge a small amount to cover transport and sorting. Where a fee applies, it is noted in that organisation's listing above.

Yes. Several organisations working in Kolkata will help you set one up with bins, posters, collection logistics and pickup, so a whole housing complex or office can donate together. It is one of the easiest ways to clear a lot of clothes at once. Check the listings above for who runs drives and how to reach them.