Every year, as Diwali approaches, we all slip into the same ritual: Diwali ki Safaai.
Cupboards are cleared, old clothes resurface, and boxes that haven’t seen daylight in years finally make their way out. And then? All of that waste piles onto a city that’s already carrying more than its share.
You’ve seen it, stepped around it, maybe even wondered: is this really the only way Mumbai can celebrate Diwali?
If Diwali is about renewal, shouldn’t the city’s waste also find a new life?
That’s the exact question that started Mumbai’s Largest Diwali Dry Waste Collection Drive, now entering its 5th year.
Back then we wondered, “if the city that never sleeps could also become the city that never wastes, what would that look like?”
H: The City that showed up
In 2021, it looked like 3,100 kgs of #PuranaSamaan diverted from landfills.
In 2022, it doubled to 10,000 kgs.
By 2023, it reached 20,000 kgs.
And last year, Mumbaikars showed up like never before, diverting 45,000 kgs.
H: The 5th Year.
As Mumbai’s Largest Diwali Dry Waste Collection Drive returns for its 5th year, it carries the same relentless spirit that has powered it from day one: the spirit of a city that always shows up.
This movement has never been about bins and trucks alone. It has been powered, quietly and consistently, by the very people and communities that keep Mumbai moving forward.
And this year, there are no limits to what recovery can look like. No boundaries on who can join in. Because when an entire city chooses to act together, recovery doesn’t just add up, it multiplies.
What are we collecting? Paper, plastics, glass, e-waste, metals, textiles, and utensils. (Just skip mattresses, debris, or wooden items.)
Dates & location: From October 4th to 14th, the drive will cover neighborhoods across Mumbai, making it easier than ever to give your waste a new life.
When Waste Finds a Purpose, So Do Young Minds
This drive has never only been about waste. It has always been about what comes after.
For the past four years, all proceeds generated from the drive have been donated to nurture young kids at St. Catherine of Siena School and Orphanage. Together, we’ve turned Mumbai’s Purana Samaan into education, meals, and safe spaces for children who deserve every chance to dream bigger.
And this year, in our 5th edition, that promise continues. Because when waste finds a purpose, so do young minds.
How You Can Join the Movement
This Diwali, giving your PuranaSamaan a Naya Thikana is as simple as clicking a link.
- Head to https://recircle.in/diwali/
- Select whether you’re an individual, society, corporation, or institution.
- Check the collection dates for your area and submit your details.
- Receive a confirmation email — and you’re all set!
A Diwali Ritual, Rooted in Mumbai Core
Five years in, this isn’t just a collection drive anymore, it’s become a Diwali ritual for the city. One that’s rooted in what we at ReCircle call the Mumbai Core: resilience, responsibility, and community.
So this Diwali, while you light up your homes, also give your waste a brighter future.
