In a step towards cutting down waste generation in urban India, the government will launch one-stop centres where citizens can deposit old clothes, shoes, books, toys and plastic that can be reused or recycled.

These special “Reduce, Recycle and Reuse” centres are to be launched nationwide on May 20. Individuals, institutions and commercial enterprises can deposit the items at these hubs.

The items will then be given to different stakeholders to be refurbished for reuse or would be made into new products contributing to a circular economy, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation said in a statement on Monday.

These ‘RRR’ centres would be set up as part of a nationwide campaign ‘Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar’ (‘My Life, My Clean City’) under the aegis of the Swacch Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0) to strengthen citizens’ resolve to reduce, reuse and recycle, the Ministry said.

The objective of the campaign is to take collective action for the protection and conservation of the environment by adopting sustainable daily habits. “The 3Rs form the backbone of ‘Waste to Wealth’ and has empowered many craftsmen, recyclers, self-help Groups, entrepreneurs, startups, etc. to recycle waste into a host of products,” a senior official in the Urban Affairs Ministry said.

The campaign will culminate on World Environment Day on June 5.