Centre rejects portrayal of India as 'dumping ground' for fast-fashion waste from Western countries

New Delhi: The Union Textile Ministry has dismissed claims that India is being used as a dumping ground for fast-fashion waste from Western countries, stating that over 90 per cent of the nearly 7.8 million tonnes of textile waste handled annually originates domestically.

Imported waste accounts for only about 7 per cent and consists mainly of second-hand clothing and mutilated rags, strictly regulated under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, the Ministry said in a statement.


The Ministry described portrayals of India’s textile recycling industry as “misleading.” It acknowledged isolated cases of non-compliance may occur but rejected broad characterisations of the sector as environmentally negligent or exploitative, emphasising ongoing efforts in regulatory strengthening, technology adoption, and sustainability.

The clarification comes in response to a CNN report published on May 9, which highlighted pollution, unsafe working conditions, and environmental concerns in Panipat, Haryana, linked to inflows of discarded clothing from the US, UK, and Japan.

According to the “Mapping of Textile Waste Value Chain in India” study (2026), India generates approximately 7,073 kilotonnes of textile waste annually, with nearly 97 per cent of pre-consumer manufacturing waste being recycled. The sector contributes an estimated economic value of Rs 22,000 crore annually, according to a FICCI report, the statement said.

Life Cycle Assessment studies by IIT Delhi, using Panipat field data, found that textile recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel depletion, and acid rain potential by 30–40 per cent compared to virgin fibre production, said the statement.

The Ministry acknowledged challenges such as post-consumer waste collection, handling of blended synthetics, informal unit compliance, and worker safety, while noting the sector’s gradual shift toward greater formalisation and cleaner practices.

Recycling units operate under pollution control laws and labour regulations, with active enforcement by the National Green Tribunal and State Pollution Control Boards. Panipat has emerged as a major global textile recycling hub. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to building a globally competitive, environmentally responsible, and socially inclusive textile sector, the statement added.