Textiles waste
Information on how you can recycle clothing and other textiles.
Reusing clothes and textiles
In 2021/22 residents threw away nearly 5,800 tonnes of unwanted clothes, towels, blankets and sheets into their general rubbish at home, even though most of these textiles could have been repaired, reused or recycled.
Before deciding to recycle your textiles, consider whether they could be re-purposed, or if someone else could use them.
If you have clothes that just need repairing, or could be reused, visit The Big Fix page for help and advice.
If you don't want the clothes or textiles anymore, most charity shops will take clothes that are in good condition. Alternatively, try arranging a 'swishing' event, where clothes are swapped between friends, neighbours or communities.
There are also lots of sites on the internet where you can sell good quality clothes, shoes and textiles.
Why not donate good conditioned old clothes to your local charity shop? Most charity shops will also take rag if it is bagged up separately and labelled as such.
Visit our household collections web page for more information on collections in your area.
What textiles can and can't be recycled at our recycling centres
| Textile | Yes please | No thanks |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing |
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| Bedding |
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| Accessories |
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| Other |
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Items from textiles banks at recycling centres are collected and sorted into different categories.
Clothes and shoes that still have some life left in them will be sorted and sent for reuse.
Old, well-worn or torn textiles will be recycled by shredding. They are then used to manufacture a range of cleaning cloths, flock rags and felt materials used in automotive sound proofing and mattress stuffing.