Recycling clothes – how can I make a contribution? Your much-loved hiking trousers, down jacket or outdoor blouse are worn out or simply no longer fit. And in a way you feel sorry for it, but the item of clothing has reached the end of its useful life and has to be discarded. It would at least be nice if the item was not just thermally recycled, but could still be put to some kind of good use. That’s why I did some research into how you can give your unwanted (outdoor) clothing a new purpose. In this article on recycling old clothes, I’ll tell you what I found out.
Buying, wearing and recycling clothes
Of course, it’s best for the environment and your wallet if you wear your clothes for a long time and maximise the lifespan of a product. It’s worth paying attention to quality when buying. After all, clothing made from high-quality materials that has been manufactured to a high standard generally lasts much longer than low-quality fast fashion.
Your clothes are still in good condition but you’ve had enough of them? Then pass them on! Children in particular can quickly outgrow their clothes. In this case, it makes sense to recycle clothes that are still in good condition. Either give them away to friends or family or sell or donate them.
Clothing swaps and second-hand markets
For children’s clothing in particular, there are swap meets or specially organised (clothing) flea markets in many communities or towns. Not only can you sell clothes here but also buy them if you wish. In other words, it’s all about local used clothing recycling. Apart from this, you can also look out for specific flea markets that sell ski or cycling clothing, for example. Swap and sales events of this kind are often organised by local clubs. It’s therefore worth taking a look at the local events calendar.
However, T-shirts, trousers and other items can also be sold via online portals. Particularly in the clothing sector, there are several providers that offer a platform for this. Of course, everyone has to find out for themselves which one is right for them.
Repairing or having items of clothing repaired
Another common reason for disposing of clothing is damage such as broken zips, cuts, tears or worn-out cuffs. For high-quality clothing in particular, repairs can be worthwhile. Classic defects in (functional) clothing can often be repaired by tailors or professional repair services in such a way that they don’t impair the functionality of the garment and are not or hardly noticeable. There are also repair cafés in many places where you can learn how to repair things yourself with some guidance. Events of this kind are offered by all sorts of organisers and clubs.
Donating old clothes
An alternative to selling is donating. This not only gives the discarded clothes a second life, it also actively does good. However, there are a few differences that you should be aware of when donating clothes.
Clothes banks and social organisations
In the UK, social organisations such as the British Red Cross, Oxfam GB or the Salvation Army run clothes banks and charity shops throughout the country. Good second-hand clothing is always welcome here as long as the condition of the clothes is acceptable. Depending on the season or the organisation, however, there can be major differences as to which sizes and types of clothing are preferred. In addition, organisations such as refugee or homeless shelters are also happy to accept material donations. Sleeping bags or sleeping mats are often needed, especially in the area of homeless aid. No matter what you would like to donate, it’s important to discuss the donation in advance with the respective organisation to ensure that they arrive where they’re really needed.
Can you put clothes in the recycling bin?
Another relatively convenient way to recycle clothing is to dispose of it in a used clothing container. In some towns, for example, these can be found in (supermarket) car parks or at churches. However, when donating clothes via a container, you should take a close look at where you’re giving the clothes. Unfortunately, there are always some black sheep who want to make a profit with well-intentioned donations. For this reason, more and more illegally set up containers from dubious companies are popping up. When choosing a used clothing container, make sure that it belongs to a well-known charity organisation and bears a logo, charity number and contact details. Let’s take a closer look at what happens to the old clothes from the container.
Collecting and sorting
Once the clothes have been collected in the container, they’re collected by recycling as well as sorting companies and sorted accordingly. The problem is that only about 30-40% of the donated clothes are suitable for the second-hand market. This is not only due to the clothing itself. All sorts of things illegally end up in used clothing containers, electronic waste, residual waste or dog faeces being just a few sad examples. However, this illegally discarded waste also damages the old clothes inside the container, often making them unusable.
Recycling clothes by passing them on or selling them
The sorted clothing is divided up and passed on or sold.
- In the UK, for example, around 25-30% of donated clothing is given directly to charity organisations or charity shops. However, only 10-30% is actually sold in local shops while the rest is utilised in other ways.
- The rest of the usable clothing is sent abroad, often to Eastern Europe, more often to the global South. The problem with this is that the markets abroad are literally flooded with second-hand fashion, often with more clothing than is healthy for the local markets. In addition, many emerging and developing countries don’t have a functioning disposal system, so it can be assumed that a certain amount of the donated clothing will sooner or later end up in a landfill.
Clothing that’s classified as no longer usable is sent for recycling or thermal recycling.
Recycling and utilising old clothes
The UK remains largely aligned with the EU’s Circular Economy Act, which states that as of 2025, textile waste (i.e. clothing but also table and bed linen etc.) may no longer be disposed of with residual waste. It must be collected separately and recycled accordingly. As mentioned above, this is done via used clothes containers or charity shops. In some places, old textiles can also be handed in at recycling centres.
Disposing of textiles
We’ve already found out that merely 10-30% of all donated textiles are sold as second-hand clothing, while the rest is utilised in other ways. Here too, the Circular Economy Act specifies that only clothing that’s heavily contaminated (e.g. due to oil or paint) may be thermally recycled. In other words, this is the last resort after all other options have been exhausted. Thermal recycling means burning the textiles together with other residential waste in a waste recycling plant. This process generates electricity or heat depending on the plant.
Recycling damaged clothes
What’s no longer suitable as clothing is often still good enough to be used for other purposes, for example as cleaning cloths. Additionally, old textiles are often shredded and processed into insulating materials. These include acoustic insulation materials as well as thermal insulation systems for building insulation. Apart from that, shredding companies process old textiles into fibres from which coarse yarns or non-wovens are made.
Furthermore, institutions and companies are researching processes to develop new, high-quality textiles and products from the fibres of old clothing. There are different approaches and concepts for recycling used clothing. One example of this is regranulation, in which synthetic fibres are converted into PET granulate. This is then used to produce plastics.
Other approaches deal with the recycling of natural fibres such as wool or cotton. Here too, there are already concepts and processes for creating new yarns and fabrics from old textiles.
Upcycling old clothes
Recycling clothes is not your thing? Another interesting way to reuse old clothes is upcycling. This requires a little skill and enjoyment of handicrafts, as old clothes can often be easily reworked or repurposed. This way, something new is created from something old. Here are some examples:
- Patchwork blankets: granted, some people love the style of classic patchwork blankets, others hate it. In any case, you need lots of different fabrics to make them, and old clothes can be a good and inexpensive source.
- Bags: with a little skill, stylish shoulder bags or pouches can be sewn from old jumpers or trousers.
- Cuddly toys and draught excluders: this tip comes straight from my Nan. If you crochet, knit or sew your own cuddly toys or draught excluders for doors or windows, you’ll need a filling. Old fine stockings or tights are particularly suitable for this, preferably in combination with scraps of wool or fabric that are left over from the manufacturing process anyway.
