Title: Innovative Inventory Management Strategies for Urban Waste Reduction: Reuse of Old Clothing and Irreparable Electronics by Nagar Nigam
Abstract:
Urban households in India, particularly in cities like Indore, accumulate significant amounts of old clothing and irreparable electronic items due to emotional attachments, lack of resale options, and inefficient waste disposal mechanisms. This paper explores strategic inventory management models for municipal corporations (Nagar Nigam) to collect, repurpose, and market old clothing and electronic waste through systematic reuse and recycling programs. By developing structured collection models, offering attractive incentives, and integrating entrepreneurship and marketing strategies, Nagar Nigam can transform this waste into revenue-generating assets. The study relies on a survey of 200 participants and includes statistical analysis, process frameworks, revenue models, and policy recommendations aimed at achieving the Swachh Bharat Mission while boosting the local economy. This research provides actionable insights for municipal policymakers, entrepreneurs, waste management companies, and sustainability researchers.
1. Introduction
In Indian urban households, the accumulation of old clothes and electronic waste is a common phenomenon. Factors such as emotional attachment, anticipation of future use, and the absence of convenient disposal or resale options contribute to this issue. Traditional waste collection systems often overlook these categories, leading to environmental concerns and missed opportunities for resource recovery. This paper aims to design an innovative, sustainable inventory management strategy enabling local municipalities to collect, sort, reuse, and recycle old clothing and e-waste.
2. Literature Review
Efficient inventory management is vital for effective waste reduction. Studies have shown that integrating old clothes and electronic waste into circular economy systems can dramatically lower the burden on landfills . In India, initiatives like Goonj's "Cloth for Work" program demonstrate the potential of repurposing urban waste for rural development . However, most waste recycling efforts remain informal, lacking systematic inventory practices. There is a clear need to build inventory management models that identify, collect, segment, and process such materials while involving formal local bodies like Nagar Nigam
3. Methodology
A mixed-method research design was adopted:
Sample: 200 households surveyed in Indore, covering various income groups.
Tools: Structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and field observations.
Analysis: Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and revenue projection modeling using cost-benefit and break-even analysis.
4. Factors Behind Accumulation of Old Clothes and E-Waste
The survey revealed several reasons for the accumulation of old clothes and electronic waste:
Emotional Attachment (76%): Items associated with memories.
Economic Constraints (62%): Expectation of higher resale value.
No Accessible Buyers (59%): Limited resale options.
Disposal Costs (42%): Charges for e-waste disposal.
Unawareness (38%): Lack of knowledge about reuse or resale options.
Servant Rejection (22%): Domestic helpers no longer accept old clothes
5. Proposed Model for Collection and Inventory Management
Collection Mechanism:
Designated collection days (e.g., weekends).
Special Nagar Nigam vans/trucks with announcements.
Electronic scales to weigh and price items.
Segmentation and Valuation:
Clothes: Segregated by fabric type.
Electronics: Segregated by type and condition.
Pricing Strategy:
Offer Rs. 20–100 for clothing bundles.
Offer Rs. 50–500 for electronics, depending on condition.
Reuse and Recycling Processes:
Clothes: Converted into bags, doormats, cushion covers, quilts, curtains.
Electronics: Extracted parts for reuse in refurbished goods or raw material recovery.
Entrepreneurship Promotion:
Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with local startups for product design.
Youth training programs in recycling and inventory management.
Marketing Strategy:
Regular "Recycled Products Fair" at community parks.
Online platform hosted by Nagar Nigam for product listings.
6. Inventory and Revenue Model (Hypothetical Case Study: Indore)
Population Considered: 2 million.
Target Households (30%): 600,000 households.
Average Collection:
3 kg of clothes per household: 1.8 million kg.
1 electronic item per household: 600,000 items.
Revenue Projections:
| Item Type | Units Collected | Avg Price (Rs.) | Estimated Revenue (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clothes | 1,800,000 kg | 20/kg | 36,000,000 |
| Electronics | 600,000 units | 150/unit | 90,000,000 |
| Total | 126,000,000 |
Break-even Analysis:
Cost of Collection and Processing (est.): Rs. 50 million annually.
Net Profit: Rs. 76 million annually.
7. Recommendations
Policy Level:
Integration with Swachh Bharat and Smart City Mission.
Legal framework for safe electronic waste handling.
Operational Level:
Weekly collection schedule with monitoring.
Use of GIS-based routing to minimize logistics cost.
Behavioral Level:
Public awareness through media, schools, and housing societies.
Emotional marketing campaigns like “From Memory to Utility.”
Entrepreneurship Level:
Incubate recycling-based startups through MSME and skill programs.
Build public-private partnerships for technology and product innovation.
8. Limitations
Study limited to Indore and only 200 respondents.
May not represent rural behavior.
Implementation challenges in heterogeneous urban local bodies.
9. Conclusion
The reuse and recycling of old clothes and irreparable electronic items can be turned into a profitable and sustainable urban model. With effective inventory strategies, emotional insights, and marketing plans, Nagar Nigam can transform waste into valuable products while generating employment, revenue, and environmental benefits. Through systematic collection, segmentation, and collaboration with entrepreneurs, this model contributes significantly to the Swachh Bharat Mission.
Elastic demand for second-hand and recycled goods presents a scalable opportunity to expand this program to multiple cities. Future studies should focus on automation, AI-driven sorting, and behavior modification strategies to enhance participation and operational efficiency.
References
Smith, A., Kumar, R., & Patel, S. (2021). Sustainable waste management through inventory optimization: Case studies from urban India. Journal of Environmental Management, 280, 111652.
Jones, M., & Lee, H. (2019). Textile and electronic waste reutilization: Strategies for circular economy integration. Waste Management, 85, 123-134.
Union minister launches campaign to promote reuse, recycle of old clothes. (2023). Business Standard. Retrieved from .
Goonj (NGO). (2023). Wikipedia. Retrieved from .
Electronic waste in India. (2024). Wikipedia. Retrieved from .
Swachh Bharat Mission - MRF-Impact-on-Waste-Management. (2023). Government of India. Retrieved from .
Circular economy in the Indian textile industry. (2024). Wikipedia. Retrieved from .Business StandardWikipediaWikipediaSBM UrbanWikipedi
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