Reusing clothing and textiles

Each person in the UK throws 35 items of clothing into the bin every year with £140 million worth of used, but still wearable clothing ending up in the waste stream in the UK each year.

Reuse and recycle

There are many options for reusing or recycling textiles, but the best option for you will depend on the quality of the textiles you have.

Sell online

If you have clothing or textiles in good condition in the first instance donate them to a local charity shop or sell online on sites such as eBay or Vinted.

Household Recycling Centres

All Household Recycling Centres (except for Upton-upon-Severn) have textile recycling banks which will take clothes, textiles (curtains, bedding etc) and paired shoes:

• please tie shoes together and put items into a plastic bag before putting into the textile bank
• the banks will also take clean, but tatty clothing which is used as industrial rags – please do not put clothing stained with paint or oil into the banks

Charities

Recycle via bags put through your door but be careful about which charities they collect for as some are not legitimate. To check if the charity is registered, please check the:

• Charity Commission website

Duvets or pillows shouldn't be recycled into a textile bank:

• some charities such as Maggs take clean duvets and pillows for reuse by people setting up home
• some animal charities will take duvets to make dog beds – please check with individual charities