Recycling benefit

Amount recycled
7,293t
CO2 avoided
42,501t
Estimated disposal saving
£824,053
Reported as exported
23%

Textiles represent a significant waste stream in the UK as a result of constantly changing trends and ‘fast fashion’ manufacture and production methods. Out of the 1.13 million tonnes of unwanted clothing thrown out every year, 540,000 tonnes is sent for re-use (around 70 per cent of which is exported overseas) and 160,000 tonnes is recycled.

Around 350,000 tonnes of clothing ends up in landfill every year, despite much of it still being wearable and holding commercial value. While 57 per cent of people in the UK say that they recycle their textiles, 41 per cent say they’re not aware of recycling or re-use facilities for textiles, such as clothes banks or charity shops.

The textile recycling process involves pulling apart fabrics into fibres and re-spinning them, but textiles are more versatile than other waste streams in that clothes can be re-used without much processing.

Encouraging re-use and recycling of clothing and textiles would contribute to a 10-20 per cent reduction of the industry’s carbon, water and waste footprints, as well as benefitting charities around the UK and abroad that raise money through the sale of unwanted clothes or provide them to people in need. So, make sure you try to take a few old clothes down to the charity shop every so often!

You can learn more about how to recycle clothing and textiles on the Wales Recycles website.


Where does textiles recycling go?

Top countries (selected materials) - 2023/24

Top UK recycling destinations

Country Tonnes
England 4,142t
Wales 1,454t
Company Country Tonnes
JMP Wilcox and Company Ltd England 1,824t
Equestrian Surfaces Ltd England 595t
Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd England 369t
unspecified England 340t
Endurmeta Ltd Limited Wales 312t
Potters Waste Management Wales 298t
MZ Rags England 249t
Crest Co-operative Ltd Wales 240t
Kettering Textiles Ltd England 162t
Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd Wales 161t
Antur Waunfawr Wales 128t
Innovate Recycle Ltd England 113t

Top world recycling destinations

Company Country Tonnes
unspecified unspecified 1,470t
unspecified India 30t
unspecified Pakistan 29t
Varoskapu Uzlethaz Hungary 23t
St David's Hospice Donation Centre unspecified 22t
unspecified Germany 20t
unspecified Kenya 16t
unspecified Uganda 15t
PVT Ltd Pakistan 8t
unspecified Benin 7t
unspecified Gabon 7t
unspecified Ghana 7t