Textiles accepted at the new drop off points include clean clothing such as pants, skirts, jackets etc and linen items such as sheets, pillow-cases blankets, towels, cushions and pillows, doonas, pairs of shoes and material and yarn off-cuts.
Textiles not accepted include swim wear and underwear, backpacks, mattresses and mattress protectors, curtains with hooks and eyelets and re-useable shopping bags.
City of Greater Bendigo Resource Recovery and Education Manager Brooke Pearce said the City has partnered with Textile Recyclers Australia (TRA) to implement the new textile recycling collection points.
“The City is committed to embracing circular economy solutions and TRA were successful in stage two of the Circular Greater Bendigo project for managing textile waste,” Ms Pearce said.
“In partnership with the City, TRA will provide bins at local transfer stations at Heathcote, Goornong and Strathfieldsaye for the collection of clean clothing and other textile items.
“All items collected at our transfer stations will be transported to Melbourne for sorting. Textiles suitable for recycling will be mechanically shredded and spun into yarn.
“The various yarns produced will then be used to make a variety of recycled products including totes, cushions, gloves, socks, rugs, throws, blankets, felts, underlay, insulation and furniture filler. While garments deemed useable and too good for shredding will be sent for a second life.
“In addition to this TRA will work with the City to explore the potential for a localised textile recycling solution.”
TRA’s mission is to keep textiles out of landfill whilst working in partnerships to find circular solutions for textile waste.
The textile industry is the second largest polluting sector in the world. However, many who work within it are collaborating in research and innovation to offer channels for textile waste to become a resource. By recycling textiles, the sector can reduce the amount of water and energy used in producing virgin products. The use of recycled fibres is the key to change.
Commercial quantities of textiles will not be accepted.
