Swap shop, footmats, and LED bulbs: Haritha Karma Sena members in Kerala’s Varkala turn waste into wealth
The clothes that are worth salvaging are cleaned and then stocked at a swap shop, giving a new lease of life to pre-loved clothes that otherwise would just have taken up space in cupboards without benefit to anyone.“People can come and pick up saris, kids’ wear, and even nighties at the swap shop. These would normally be dumped in a waste bin and would ultimately end up in a landfill, but a 10-member microenterprise group trained in tailoring is repurposing them as colourful footmats and pillows.The group was recently granted a loan from the Kerala Solid Waste Management Project (KSWMP), says Ms. Geetha, secretary of the consortium, says they bid for panchayat tenders that need LED bulbs for lamp posts.
- ▪The clothes that are worth salvaging are cleaned and then stocked at a swap shop, giving a new lease of life to pre-loved clothes that otherwise would just have taken up space in cupboards without benefit to anyone.“People can come and pick
- ▪These would normally be dumped in a waste bin and would ultimately end up in a landfill, but a 10-member microenterprise group trained in tailoring is repurposing them as colourful footmats and pillows.The group was recently granted a loan
- ▪Geetha, secretary of the consortium, says they bid for panchayat tenders that need LED bulbs for lamp posts.
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| Canonical URL | https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/swap-shop-footmats-and-led-bulbs-haritha-karma-sena-members-in-keralas-varkala-turn-waste-into-wealth/article71272125.ece |
| Publication time | Mon, 27 Jul 2026 16:59:13 +0530 |
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In Varkala municipality, Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) members who do door-to-door waste collection take the 3Rs—reduce, reuse, and recycle—very seriously.Each time they organise a waste collection drive during which, along with plastic, clothes are collected, they sort them and send those that are grubby, faded, or worn out for recycling to Powergreen Eco Solutions at Oonninmoodu. The clothes that are worth salvaging are cleaned and then stocked at a swap shop, giving a new lease of life to pre-loved clothes that otherwise would just have taken up space in cupboards without benefit to anyone.“People can come and pick up saris, kids’ wear, and even nighties at the swap shop. The best part is it is free.
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