Can you recycle clothes?

Wearable clothes should go to charity shops, clothing banks or resale apps. Damaged and worn-out textiles are still valuable — most textile banks and many charity shops accept them labelled as rags for recycling into insulation and industrial wipes. Some councils now collect textiles kerbside in tied bags.

Tips

• Bag textiles separately and keep them dry — wet textiles are usually landfilled
• Retailer take-back schemes (H&M, M&S, Primark) give vouchers for any-brand clothes

Which bin does it go in?

Never in any household bin — donate, sell or use textile banks; even worn-out clothes are wanted as 'rags'.

Before throwing it away, see reuse, repair and donation routes.

Background: Reuse, repair or donate before recycling.

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