Recycled Textiles

What Happens To Recycled Textiles?

Virtually all clothing and fabric items can be successfully recycled. Your old coat could end up being worn by an Albanian peasant. Fibers from your worn out socks could end up in a sofa, a sheet of paper or a new shirt. What happens to your recycled textiles depends on their condition, the type of fabric they're made from and the current demands of various industries.

Sorting

Textile items are sorted and graded at recycling centers. Skilled workers first separate clothing, shoes and linens that are in good, reusable condition from those that are torn, tattered or stained. Wearable items are then sorted by garment type and passed on to charities. Damaged items are sorted according to type of fiber and sent on to reprocessing facilities to be made into new materials or products.

Reusable Items

Local charities often distribute recycled clothing directly to the homeless or to others in need. National charities may sell used clothing and household textiles collected from recycling centers in their shops. This offers a low cost source of goods for people on limited incomes and the profits raised go to good causes.

International charities and aid organisations distribute usable recycled clothing around the world. They may be given to people who cannot afford shoes or warm winter clothing, or be shared out in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

Damaged Items

Absorbent materials are frequently recycled into rags and wiping cloths used in automotive and other industries. Cotton, silk and linen items are used in paper manufacturing.

Many unwearable pieces of clothing are shredded for use as filler for stuffing upholstery and mattresses or for insulating car interiors. Shredded fabric can be further processed by felting. Felt from recycled materials is used for roof padding, panel linings and loudspeaker cones.

Some recycled textiles are sent to mills for fiber reclamation. After sorting by color, the material is reduced to its fibers. These are typically blended with fresh fibers of the same type. The resulting strands are then carded and spun into thread or yarn which is used to create new fabrics.

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recycled textiles