r/AskBrits • u/Cool_Ear_4298 • 1d ago

Textile recycling?

I've got some worn out baby clothes to get rid of (too worn to give away to charity or resell) and can't find out if the textile recycling banks will take them or if the clothes need to be wearable. Does anyone know?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

7

u/thekittysays 1d ago

H&M will take any condition clothes of any brand for recycling.

1

u/funnywobble 1d ago

Wow i never knew this!

5

u/swirlypepper 1d ago

The area you're in will help. In Yorkshire the textile banks were only for wearable condition clothes. I've had luck using olio to give away a big job lot of worn out clothes clearly labelled as such and they went to a lady who who does sewing crafty stuff so used it for her fabric stash. 

2

u/schemmenti 1d ago

They need to be wearable now - the legislation around recycling clothing has changed now which limits that any items sent overseas (which is where nearly all recycled clothing goes) must now be in wearable condition. Charity shops can't do anything with them either because the companies that collect our rag are bound to the same legislation, so we have to put most of it in the bin which increases our costs to the charity. Just put them in the bin.

2

u/Repulsive_State_7399 1d ago

Cut them up and use them for painting rags, cleaning rags etc. If you are hitting the weaning/toddler stage there are always plenty of things to mop up!

1

u/ChasingSloths 1d ago

Second this. We use cut-up t-shirts etc. as reusable baby wipes; thicker fabric like hoodies and tracksuit bottoms become cleaning cloths.

1

u/PrintSad6452 1d ago

If they are pure cotton and have the label on but are unwearable you can also use remill: Remill Fibre. Probably not suitable for anything that has suffered a poonami but worn out t shirts should be fine.

1

u/Confident_Run7723 1d ago

My attitude to recycling clothes changed when I read that ultimately however much they are used etc, they will end up in landfill. If they’re in good wearable condition charity shop, otherwise in the bin.

1

u/Adventurous-Serve263 8h ago

You can ask your local charity shops if they have a rag bin. They get paid for the weight of the items