Clothes, towels and other textiles
Environmental benefits: WRAP estimate that more than 1 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year, with most of this coming from household sources. Making clothes and textiles uses resources, a lot of energy and water and can pollute the environment.
Clothes recycling reduces the need for landfill space. Textiles present particular problems in landfill because synthetic (manmade fibres) products will not decompose. Also, recycling reduces pressure on virgin resources, results in less pollution and saves energy. People in developing countries, and those nearer home, reuse all types of clothes.
How to recycle: be ruthless. If you haven’t worn or used it in the past six months, chances are you’re not going to. Recycle your unwanted clothes, soft toys, linen and towels at your local clothing bank or a charity shop of your choice.
Or take your clothes and other textiles at recycling banks or centre. Enter your postcode into Recycle Now’s facility finder to find one in your area.
Try homemade recycling and turn your old clothes into cleaning cloths.
Recycle your jeans into shoes! Cumbrian based shoe manufacturers Softwalker Ltd takes old jeans and recycles them to create sandals.
Useful links:
Recycle Now – Clothes
Waste online
Team Green Britain and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG) do not endorse any of the products, companies, organisations, opinions or websites that have been mentioned in this article. The content of this article has merely been provided as background to, or discussion on, various topical issues relating to the environment and it is not necessarily representative of the views of Team Green Britain and LOCOG. Further, any figures and calculations noted in this article are estimates (unless otherwise specified), and may vary in light of numerous factors and readers are advised to undertake their own research in relation to the facts and figures applicable to their particular circumstance.