The Ministry of Textiles said India’s recycling ecosystem is largely driven by domestic textile waste, with imports accounting for only 7 per cent of total volumes and remaining tightly regulated
The government has rejected recent international media reports portraying India as a dumping ground for global textile waste, stating that the country’s recycling ecosystem is overwhelmingly driven by domestic sources.
In a statement, the Ministry of Textiles said more than 90 per cent of textile waste handled in India originates within the country, mainly from factory scrap and post-consumer domestic clothing waste.
Imports Remain limited
It added that imported textile waste accounts for only about 7 per cent of total volumes and is strictly regulated under existing waste management rules. The Ministry said these imports largely consist of second-hand clothing and sorted textile material routed through formal trade channels.
Citing the “Mapping of Textile Waste Value Chain in India (2026)” study, the Ministry said India generates around 7,073 kilo tonnes of textile waste annually, with pre-consumer industrial waste showing a recovery rate of nearly 97 per cent.
Strong Circular Economy
The government also cited estimates from FICCI that place the sector’s annual economic value at around Rs 22,000 crore, driven by reuse, sorting and recycling activities across formal and informal segments.
On environmental performance, it referred to Life Cycle Assessment studies conducted by Indian Institute of Technology Delhi based on data from recycling clusters such as Panipat, which found that textile recycling can reduce emissions and fossil fuel use by 30–40 per cent compared to virgin fibre production.
Clusters, Regulation, Ongoing Challenges
India’s textile recycling ecosystem is concentrated in clusters including Tiruppur, Ludhiana, Surat, and Panipat, which together form the backbone of the country’s material recovery network.
The Ministry said the sector operates under environmental laws including the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981, with oversight from State Pollution Control Boards and enforcement bodies such as the National Green Tribunal.
While defending the overall ecosystem, the government acknowledged challenges in waste collection systems, handling of blended synthetic textiles, compliance in smaller informal units, and worker safety concerns.
It said these issues reflect a sector in transition, with ongoing efforts toward formalisation, cleaner technologies, and improved environmental compliance.
The Ministry added that India is also advancing in high-value technical textile recycling, including defence-grade aramid fibres under the National Technical Textiles Mission, with research underway into composites and aerospace applications.
