Recycling Process of Textile Waste

Textile Recycling .
Textile industry is accused of being one of the most polluting industries. Not only production but consumption of textiles also produces waste.

Textile recycling is the reuse as well as reproduction of fibres from textile waste.

Classification of Textile Waste

Pre-consumer or Post-consumer textile waste.
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Pre-consumer textile waste is the leftovers or by-products from textile-, fiber- or cotton industries.
Post-consumer textile waste is the waste of fleece, flannel, corduroy, cotton, nylon, denim, wool, and linen, which have already passed through the consumer market.

 Pre-consumer waste
Textile waste arised during yarns and fabric manufacturing, apparel-making processes and from the retail industry. They are the post-industrial waste.

Apart from these textile wastes other wastes such as PET bottles etc. are also used for recycling polyester fiber.

 Post-consumer waste
Average lifetime of any clothing is deemed to be for about 3 years, after which, they are thrown away as old clothes. Sometimes unfashionable, or undesirable clothes are also thrown away. These are post-consumer waste. Most recovered household textiles coming to these organizations, are sold or donated. The remaining ones go to either a textile recovery facility or the landfill.

Waste Management
In general, there are four ways of handling the waste. In order of priority, they are: 1. Source Reduction 2. Recycling 3. Incineration 4. Landfills

Source Reduction
To have little or even zero waste Source Reduction is generally the first step that should be considered in an integrated waste management system.

E.g. Avoiding waste generation, Internal reuse of waste, reuse in other products etc.

Incineration
It is a process of burning the solid waste to recover the heat energy. E.g. PP has same heat value as that of gasoline. Textile waste e.g. Short, shredded, loose fibers can also be reincorporated into a palatalized fuel.

Land Fills
It should be the last alternative in an integrated Waste management system. Textile waste in landfill contributes to the formation of leachate as it decomposes, which has the potential to contaminate both surface and groundwater sources. The decomposition of organic fibers and yarn such as wool produces large amounts of ammonia as well as methane.

Recycling
Recycling is a key concept of modern waste management. Recycling is the reprocessing of waste materials into new or reusable products.

The least expensive and least adverse effect on the environment is when a component can be recycled into its original product.

So how do textiles impact on the environment?

Textile products have a large impact on the environment.
This is because at every stage of the products life cycle,

energy and resources are used and waste is produced.

A Throwaway Society?
The fashion industry encourages consumers to continually update their wardrobes with the latest fashion trends. If a product is thrown out as refuse, it will be put into a Landfill site or incinerated

How does Manufacturing of Textiles affects environment

Dyeing and finishing processes use lots of chemicals. For example... - Chemical dyes - Resins to make fabrics shrink proof - Softeners to improve the feel of the fabric

In addition to producing lots of chemical waste they... -Require energy to drive the machinery - Use and contaminate large volumes of water.

How does Manufacturing of Textiles affects environment

Most of the solid waste goes to landfill sites and the

molecular waste goes into the atmosphere, oceans,

rivers, ground water, soil or plants

How does Laundry and aftercare affects environment

Most textile products need cleaning and maintaining throughout their life. This is done through processes like...... washing, dry cleaning and ironing

Waste Textiles
Possible methods of reusing and reducing textile waste....
Lay planning and pattern cutting To use computerised ______________

automotive industry To use fabric scraps within the ___________

To look at ways of using waste textiles in the manufacture of

new textile products _______

Renewable Sources of Energy

Industry depends on fossil fuels such as _______, oil
coal and natural gas _________

Production methods need to be improved to consume less energy ______________, and companies are trying to use

water or __________ wind alternative technologies such as _________

power

Why Recycle Textiles?

Carbon footprint reduction Clean air preservation Reduce energy consumption Water conservation Woodland conservation Pressure on fresh resources too is reduced. The requirement of landfill space is reduced.

What Can Be Recycled?

Usable clothing Unusable clothing torn, stained, missing buttons, broken zippers Household textiles (curtains, table linens, bedding, blankets, hats, shoes, ties, handbags, belts, stuffed toys, etc.) Many of our members recycle books, cds, tapes, and hard toys as well!

Where Do Recycled Textiles Go?

45% used for secondhand apparel 30% become wiping and polishing cloths 20% reprocessed into fibers 5% is unusable

Recycled process of textiles

Fabrics removed from bale manually or with a bale cutter Fabric pieces blended Fabrics cut with a rotary blade "Picking/' "pulling," "tearing" process uses spiked surfaces on drums to separate fibers from fabric

Recycled process of textiles (cont.)

Blending - sandwich type, or mixed in a chamber Baled Willowing (a possible process) - similar to carding. Opens entangled, matted fibers Garnetting (also possible) - reduces cord, yarn, filament, fabric trim to fiber.

Designers that make their garments from recycled goods

Gary Harvey Dress made from recycled sweet wrappers!

Gary Harvey Denim dress made from 42 pairs of Levi jeans!

Textile Recycling Drives the Economy Job creation Market creation Small business promotion Charitable funding Recycled product development Creates affordable clothing opportunity

The Challenges of Textile Recycling

It is very labor-intensive. Everything is touched by human hands. Textiles MUST always be kept clean and DRY so they cannot be co-mingled SMART is primarily made up of small companies with limited resources for PR efforts.

What Must Change?

More education, especially in schools Public Service Announcements Edits or Regulations prohibiting disposal of textiles Changes in labeling laws to allow fibers made from ground up clothing to be used as furniture stuffing, mattress stuffing, etc.

What Must Change?

Municipalities requiring public works or schools to only use wiping rags made from recycled textiles rather than paper Municipalities locating collection boxes in key areas (near recreation fields, school grounds, etc.) Government tax incentives for textile recyclers to invest in equipment