We're tackling textile waste together

Published: 30 August 2022

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That's the message behind a new clothes and textile recycling campaign launched today by the Isle of Wight Council and its waste partners, Amey.

The campaign aims to encourage residents to think about the three 'Rs' when it comes to unwanted clothing and textiles — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

The campaign will provide top tips and advice on what to do with your textile waste. Each week the campaign will explore one of the three Rs to educate, signpost and raise awareness.

Did you know Amey already collect textiles and clothing for recycling from the kerbside?

The service is easy to use:

• Place unwanted textiles or clothes separately in a standard plastic shopping bag or a clear or white sack. This is so the collection crew can see it is only textiles in the bag.
• Leave the bag to the side of your recycling bin or green gull sack.
• The crew will then place the textiles in a separate collection pod on the vehicle.
• The textiles are sent away to be re-used or recycled into new products such as mattress fillings.

Natasha Dix, the council' strategic manager for environment, said: “Islanders are already great at recycling but we can all do that little bit more.

Although recycling is quick and easy with kerbside collection, there are lots of things you can do before that.

"This can include re-using your clothes by upcycling them into something new, such as a t-shirt into a bag or cushion cover. Or simply donating to a charity, or selling online.

“The best option is to reduce the amount of clothing we buy. We all have those clothes at the back of the wardrobe which seemed like a bargain at the time but we have never worn!”

Householders can also put out cushion covers, duvet covers, pillowcases and curtains out for recycling.

The crew cannot take bulky items such as duvets, rugs, pillows or cushions.