Textile Reuse and Recycling Company Expands in UK

18 August 2011 A textile recycling company based in North East England, enviroclothes, is to expand its service following a successful trial with its customers. According to the company it launched a new drop-off point at a North Tyneside Retail Park which provides a convenient way for people to recycle their unwanted clothing and textiles, preventing it from being landfilled. Textiles are the fastest growing sector in terms of household waste with over 1 million tonnes of textiles end up in landfill every year, with most of this coming from household sources. The firm says that it aims to intercept re-useable items from landfill. enviroclothes offers a cash reward for customers who recycle their belongings. The service is provided by td clothing Ltd which has trialled 6 drop-off points across the north east region over the past year. This new site will be the company's seventh permanent drop-off point and will create two full time jobs. Under the scheme the company says that it accepts adults and children's clothing, shoes, bags, handbags, belts, bedding covers, towels, curtains and soft toys, with two bags of textiles (12.5kg) earning approximately £5. According to td clothing, over the past two years it has collected over 1700 tonnes of unwanted clothing via its free home collection service and more recently through its drop off points. The company says that it also offers a range of services from home collections to fundraising opportunities for schools and groups, and has raised more than £15,000 for local charities and community groups including the Cash for Kids appeal. As all items are exported to wholesalers in emerging nations to be retailed and re-worn and re-used by new owners. "During the trial period we have experienced a significant amount of growth in the usage of our service. Currently over 300 people use our home collection or drop off points every day and in the first six months of this financial year purchases have already increased by 132% on last year," said Laura Greener of td clothing Ltd. Sign up for Waste Management World's Free E-Mail Newsletters