South Holland Council in Lincolnshire is trialling a new textile collection scheme in which old textiles will be donated to the Salvation Army.
The six-month trial, which begins today (3 March), will see 5,000 homes in Spalding, Gosberton, Quadring, Holbeach, Fleet, and Gedney Drove End receive kerbside textile recycling collections once a month.
Residents have already received either six blue bags or six Salvation Army bag for use in the trial scheme, in which textiles such as old clothing, bed linen and shoes will be collected for reuse.
While textiles can already be recycled through the current kerbside recycling system, it is hoped that separate bags will garner more and better quality textiles for reuse.
Collection
Under the scheme, residents will continue to place dry recyclables such as cardboard, plastic, glass and metal (as well as heavily soiled textiles) in green recyclng bags and residual waste in black bin bags for weekly collection. However, once a month, the textile bags will also be collected.
The textiles will then be taken to the Salvation Army’s Depot in Kettering, Northamptonshire, for sorting. Reusable textiles will be given to the Salvation Army and the rest will be recycled.
The council said that although worn or stained clothes can be put in the separate texile bags, heavily stained or soiled items (such as those covered in paint or oil) should not. Rugs, carpets, and duvets are also not accepted.
Residents not involved in the trial are being urged to continue to donate their old textile to local charity shops or recycling banks.
District Council Waste and Recycling Officer Laura Simpkins, said: “Currently 1800 tonnes of textiles are thrown away each year in South Holland. These textiles could have been recycled into something new or reused by someone else.
“We’re hoping to divert more textiles from disposal by recycling recyclable grade items in this kerbside trial.\
“Textiles suitable for recycling will be collected separately from other recycling. Separating textiles in this manner improves the quality of the textiles and therefore presents an opportunity to reuse them.”
This trial was funded by a £19,000 grant by the WRAP Collection of Recycling Grade Textiles Scheme.
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