Reducing waste

by re-using
textiles
Rachel Gray
Programme Area
Manager – Re-use
Collections
About WRAP
WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where
resources are used sustainably.

We help businesses, individuals and

communities reap the benefits of reducing
waste, developing sustainable products and
using resources in an efficient way.
Contents
 Definition of textiles
 National context
 Collections
 Communications
 Local examples
Definition of Textiles
 Clothing, shoes, belts etc.
 Household non-clothing – curtains, bedding
 Mattresses
 Carpets and rugs
 Leisure Textiles – tents, sleeping bag etc.
National Context
 Still significant amounts of re-usable textiles of
value going to landfill
 Collected textiles are going to landfill due to
contamination and wetness
 Re-use through established collection methods
is working well and has the potential to be
utilised further
Infrastructure & markets
 There is an established market for clothing
and household textiles
 Proportion of UK sorted clothing has decreased
 Buoyant overseas markets
 52% of clothing collected by Charity Shops is
sold in the shops
 Further market development is needed for the
re-use of mattresses and carpets
 Stop Textiles have
textiles a value.
We threw
going to
away at least
landfill £238 million
last year
 Opportunities for re-use
 All collection routes with the exception of
kerbside co-mingled can preserve quality
We need to get people using them even more
 Established re-use markets exist and can be
maximised - washing and drying can upgrade
waste textiles to re-use grades
 We need to tackle perception issues around
mattresses re-use
Collections
 Consider what is happening in your area
 Try to avoid moving materials from one route
to another
 Preserve quality at every stage
 Make it easy for householders to take part
 Work with agencies to tackle theft
Communications
 Clear communications about all the methods
the public can use is key
 Need to overcome perceptions about
fraudulent clothing collections
 Need to explain who is carrying out the
collection and who is benefitting
 Need to consider how to ask householders to
donate all types and quality of textiles
Communication
Watch this space – collections for reuse
 Pilots to test survival bags for comingled
kerbside collection
 Template communications materials
 Research to determine collection costs and
options for mattresses, carpets, duvets and
pillows
 Pilots to look at innovation for collection of
textiles such as retailer take back and
businesses as collection hubs for clothing
Local Examples
Working with Charities
Local Authority Partnerships
RECAP
 Focus efforts on existing routes
 Target audience - women under 45 with financial pressures
 Worked with the Charity Retail Association
 Used MOSAIC profiling to decide on the location for the
fayres
 Aim is to make this a family day out
 Wear it, Love it, share it
Partnership – SE Wales Joint Contract
 Nine local authorities in South
Wales
 „The contract covers 100 sites
(bring sites and HWRCs).
 Aims to achieve a minimum
collection of 1,000 tonnes of
textiles per year.
 „Textile recycling is now cash-
positive - able to generate at
least £500,000
 „In the early part of 2012,
approximately 50 new sites
were added
Support Available from WRAP
 Waste Prevention Loan Fund
 Support for local partnerships
 Support for the Third Sector
 SCAP ezine for clothing
 Join SCAP
 Be part of the SCAP 2020 Commitment to
reduce the environmental footprint of UK
clothing
Further information
Rachel.gray@wrap.org.uk
Visit www.wrap.org.uk/textiles for
 Textiles flow and market development
opportunities in the UK
 Textile feedstock sources
 Washing and drying trials
For the textiles collection guide
www.wrap.org.uk/content/textiles-guide
Visit our stand no. 19W25