<p>You may think that “clothes recycling” involves actual recycling: but it rarely does.</p><p>When it comes to textiles, actual recycling - defined as breaking something down for reuse - is extremely difficult.&nbsp;</p><p>For some materials, it is technically possible but prohibitively expensive. But for most materials it is simply not possible at all. The technology to separate mixed materials into their composite elements doesn't exist.</p><h3><strong>So what is it then?</strong></h3><p>The term “textile recycling” is generically used to mean “dealing in second-hand clothing”.&nbsp;</p><p>This involves</p><ul><li>collecting used clothes and other textiles</li><li>selecting items which can be resold</li><li>throwing out the rest!</li></ul><p>For this reason, clothing recyclers often request that items are in good condition or suitable for reuse. Because those that are not may just end up in the trash. Textile waste from these kind of operations is high.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>Next Level</strong></h3><p>There are, however, some companies which do more:</p><ul><li>collecting used clothes and other textiles</li><li>selecting items which can be resold</li><li>identifying those that can be repurposed (eg for cleaning rags)</li><li>harvesting usable materials from otherwise damaged items (eg cutting out scraps of good material from, say, a torn pair of jeans) for reuse or upcycling</li><li>identifying textiles which can genuinely be recycled (very few)</li><li>throwing out the rest!</li></ul><p>Waste from such operations is lower.</p><p>The textiles that are most valuable to these “recyclers” are natural fibers, such as cotton, which tend to have a longer life and are easier to repurpose when they are no longer suitable for reuse. Synthetic materials and mixed materials are harder to repurpose.&nbsp;</p><p>Likewise larger pieces of cloth are easier to repurpose than smaller scraps. So some companies request that scrap materials are of a minimum size (these companies rarely accept scraps smaller than 50cm square).</p><p>Special items like shoes, bras, belts, and accessories are not possible to recycle at all. So unless they can be reused, they will end up in the trash.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>What this means to you</strong></h3><p>The next time you are choosing where to “recycle” your textiles, please ask yourself: what kind of “clothing recycler” are they?</p><p>In Singapore, we are happy to recommend the <strong>Life Line </strong>bins operated by <a href="/resources/lifeline-bins">Cloop</a> and <a href="/resources/kloth-bins">Kloth Cares</a> because they fall into the latter category: Life Line is a company that works hard to minimise any waste from textile recycling. &nbsp;Uniqlo is also reputable, but they only take back their own clothes.</p><p>Most other operators are second-hand clothing operators and are strictly dealing in the resale of clothes.&nbsp;</p><p>See a video of Life Line's operations <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu0MAevJFLI">here</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe class="videoplayer video" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nu0MAevJFLI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<style>
.video {
  aspect-ratio: 16 / 9;
  width: 100%;
}
</style></div><p>&nbsp;</p>

medium_textile-recycling.jpg

small_textile-recycling.jpg

thumbnail_textile-recycling.jpg

textile-recycling.jpg

Textile Recycling: It's not what you think

Collections & Donations

Report an Error on Recyclopedia.sg

Recycling Bins and Bin Problems

General Feedback / Enquiry

Make a Suggestion

Job Application

Business to Business

Talks and Presentations

medium_Blanket-Comforter.jpg

small_Blanket-Comforter.jpg

thumbnail_Blanket-Comforter.jpg

Blanket-Comforter.jpg

Foam and sponge cannot be recycled in Singapore

small_Sleep-Better-3-Inch-Extra-Firm-Mattress-Topper.jpg

thumbnail_Sleep-Better-3-Inch-Extra-Firm-Mattress-Topper.jpg

foam-and-sponge.jpg

Foam & Sponge

thumbnail_waste-textiles.png

waste-textiles.png

medium_yarn.png

small_yarn.png

thumbnail_yarn.png

yarn.png

medium_curtains.jpg

small_curtains.jpg

thumbnail_curtains.jpg

curtains.jpg

Fabrics, Yarns, & Other Textiles

medium_linen.png

small_linen.png

thumbnail_linen.png

linen.png

medium_bedsheets.jpg

small_bedsheets.jpg

thumbnail_bedsheets.jpg

bedsheets.jpg

Bedsheets & Linen

medium_pillows.png

small_pillows.png

thumbnail_pillows.png

pillows.png

medium_pillows-2.png

small_pillows-2.png

thumbnail_pillows-2.png

pillows-2.png

Pillows & Bolsters

large_stacks-of-colourful-towels.jpg

medium_stacks-of-colourful-towels.jpg

small_stacks-of-colourful-towels.jpg

thumbnail_stacks-of-colourful-towels.jpg

xlarge_stacks-of-colourful-towels.jpg

stacks-of-colourful-towels.jpg

Used Towels

Linen

Blankets & Comforters

Blankets & Comforters

Recyclable?

Blue Bins & Chutes

Other Recycling

Recommended

Charitable Donation

Its Raining Raincoats

Alternative

Specialised Recycling

Cloop Life Line Bins

Alternative

Freecycle / Give Away

Tzu Chi Sustainability Day

Door to Door Recycling Drives

Greensquare

Alternative

Trash

Similar Items

Foam & Sponge

Fabrics, Yarns, & Other Textiles

Bedsheets & Linen

Pillows & Bolsters

Used Towels

Read more

Textile Recycling: It's not what you think

Report Error / Provide Feedback