Textile recycling

The textile recycling journey begins with residents like you. Textile recycling conserves natural resources, reduces waste, and minimises the carbon footprint associated with textile production.

You can recycle unwanted clothing, shoes, and textiles in recycling banks, at charity shops, or use online selling platforms.

Upon arrival at our recycling facilities, the collected textiles are sorted and are separated. This is based on their condition, material, and usability. Wearable clothing and textiles are set aside for reuse. Damaged or non-recyclable items are prepared for further processing.

Textiles that are suitable for recycling are processed using innovative techniques. They may be shredded into fibres, transformed into insulation materials, or repurposed into new textile products.

Facts

  • in the UK, approximately 350,000 tonnes of used clothing are sent to landfill each year
  • textile recycling rates have been steadily increasing. Around 336,000 tonnes of textiles were collected for recycling or reuse in 2020
  • every tonne of textiles recycled saves an average of 20 tonnes of CO2 emissions