From old coats to worn-out bedding: throw it in the textile container.
In one month, spring will be just around the corner. For many people, this is the perfect time to thoroughly go through their wardrobe. But what do you do with all those old or damaged clothes, towels, and shoes that end up on the 'throw away' pile? Well, they should all go into the textile container.
Every year, 13 kilos of textiles per resident end up in the residual waste (the gray container) in the municipality of Leeuwarden. “Such a shame,” says Janneke Veenstra of Omrin. “When textiles are in the residual waste, we can’t do anything with them anymore. They then go into the incinerator. In Leeuwarden alone, this results in eight full truckloads of textiles being incinerated annually!”
When you dispose of textiles in the textile container, you do give them a second life. Veenstra: “From clothing to bed linens, from shoes to towels: it all goes to our sorting center in Sneek through the textile containers. It is sorted there. A large portion then goes to Eastern Europe, where there is a high demand for second-hand clothing. Clothing that is still in good condition is sold in stores. We aim to process the textiles in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough capacity for this in the Netherlands yet. Work is being done on this so that eventually, we can process more textiles within the country.”
From Old Coat to New Rug
Textiles that can no longer be sold are sent to the industry. They can do more and more with it. Veenstra: “Nowadays, so much is possible with cotton, wool, and denim. You can make new rugs from old coats, for example. And they make cleaning cloths from old towels and sheets. Textile is also processed as a raw material for garden furniture and planters.”
So even that torn pair of jeans or worn-out bedding can still be useful? Veenstra: “Absolutely! Even with textiles that are broken or worn, we can still do wonderful things. So, throw all the old and broken textiles that you can no longer use into the textile container.”
"From old coats, for example, you can make new rugs. And from old towels, they make cleaning cloths. Textiles are also used in garden furniture and planters."
Janneke Veenstra, Resource Advisor at Omrin
♻ Textile returned. And then? Here's how it works!
- Re-use.
A lot of clothing is reusable. Much more than you think. The clothing in the textile container goes to second-hand shops in (mainly Eastern) Europe, where people with a lower budget are still happy to wear them. - Recycle.
Textiles that are not reusable are recycled into new products. For example, your old coat can be made into a book cover or a rug. Or your textiles might be processed as a material for garden furniture, fences, or for reinforcing embankments.
By separating and turning in all your textiles (even damaged and worn-out), we ensure together that your textiles are properly handled!
See also:
Sock broken? Perfect for recycling!
Rigje Inia: "Hang a plastic bag in your closet."
Spotted in Leeuwarden: 5 Remarkable Textile Bins
