Recycle your textiles

New research from national waste experts Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) suggests there is huge potential economic value in discarded textiles thrown out by households in Shropshire every year. 

Their latest report reveals that across Britain people are throwing out almost one million tonnes of textiles like clothes, shoes, towels, bedding and curtains, every year.  But these unwanted items could be reused or recycled – and generate hundreds of millions of pounds in the process. 

Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for waste management, said:

“This new research suggests that, from the Shropshire Council area alone, residents are generating more than 5,000 tonnes of waste textiles each year, which could be worth about £1.2 million a year to the Shropshire economy.   I would encourage residents to donate to local charity shops and to make use of the 80 textile recycling sites we provide across the county.   

“The infrastructure is already in place to recycle textiles.  Our challenge is to make sure people are aware, not only of the negative implications of sending textiles to landfill, but also the positive benefits in creating economic opportunities for private and third sector recyclers.” 

To find your nearest textile recycling point in Shropshire visit www.recycleforshropshire.com.