12
Oct, 2022
How Are Clothes Recycled

How Are Clothes Recycled

 

One-quarter of the textiles we consume end up in recycling. Clothing recycling belongs to a specific recycling channel, like car recycling, oil recycling, packaging recycling, and pallet recovery. We consume 17 kg of textiles (clothing, household linen) per year: in the end, ¼ ends up in recycling. Rather than letting old clothes rot at the bottom of your closet, giving them a second life is simple. The recycling of clothes allows:

   – to help people in need,

   – to save space at home,

   – to reduce the cost of raw materials,

   – to offer sustainable and stable jobs.

Please note: throwing textiles in the garbage does not encourage recycling.

2 collection options: the recuperator or associations

The donation of used clothing is simple and accessible to all:

   – clothing and textile professionals give their garbage to recyclers who recycle the manufacturing waste,

   – Charitable associations collect old textiles from individuals or communities for refurbishment or recycling.

To donate your used clothes, you have to:

   – put them in a closed bag and deposit them in a container made available for that purpose,

   – give them away at collections: in stores or during special street pick-ups (announced by flyer in your mailbox)

Please note that clothing collection and sorting allow integration companies to offer subsidized employment.

Collection by container

How Are Clothes Recycled

A container for all types of textiles, shoes, and toys

Most companies specializing in clothing recycling accept all kinds of fabrics in these containers:

   – clothing,

   – household linen,

   – shoes

   – leather goods (handbags and belts),

   – toys.

Some associations refurbish oilskins, shoes, small leather goods, toys, etc…

Dropping off clothes in a container

To deposit clothes, you must observe certain rules:

   – Fill bags of 50 liters maximum (to fit in the container),

   – close the bags properly or avoid soiling the contents,

   – make sure to give clean and dry clothes (soiled, wet or moldy clothes cannot be recycled)

   – tie pairs of shoes together with their laces,

   – sort the different types of textiles into several bags (leather goods, shoes, clothing),

   – Do not put bags on the ground.

If the container is overloaded, you can call the number on the terminal so that the Relais agents can come and empty it.

Recycling of clothes: thrift shop, wiping, fraying

Once the textiles have been collected, they are sorted by small hands. The textiles then take different paths:

   – 50% of the clothes arrive in good condition, are repaired, join the thrift store, and then are:

     ◦ resold to the general public,

     ◦ given to the needy,

     ◦ sent to developing countries.

   – 20% of clothing is importable (end-of-life linens, for example):

     ◦ stripped of their accessories: buttons, eyelets …,

     ◦ cut up and made into rags,

     ◦ used for industrial wiping (cleaning, printing, and garages).

   – 8% of the waste (wool, cotton) is destined for fraying:

     ◦ frayed by color,

     ◦ processed into new fibers,

     ◦ packaged in the form of “bales”,

     ◦ resold to textile manufacturers.

If none of these solutions is exploitable, the textiles will be used to manufacture felt boards or insulation materials for the automotive industry.

Read more on recycling:

 

Hope you like this post. Remember to share your thoughts in the comments below.

11
Feb, 2021

Creative Ideas To Reuse, Reduce And Recycle Old Clothes (Part 2)

Every season, you want to follow new fashions, and it is good that you shop because you stimulate the economy and business. But you also have to encourage ourselves to recycle clothes since it is another good alternative to preserve the environment. Six million tonnes of clothing are thrown away in Europe every year, of which only 25 percent are recycled, 2700 liters of water are needed to make a 250-gram cotton T-shirt. It’s therefore important to reuse clothes and buy ecological fabrics. But surely the question you ask yourself is how to recycle old clothes. Let’s check out some savvy ways to reuse old clothes!

#1. Spice Up Your T-Shirts

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You are probably just bored with some of your clothes and want to give them a more modern touch. Do you want to know how? It is very simple! You just need scissors and a little imagination. Fold a basic shirt in half but over the longest part of the garment. Then mark the drawing you are going to make and prepare to cut out. The truth is that you can innovate with hundreds of spectacular designs like this one that we show you.

#2. Make Chews For Your Dog By Reusing Old Towels, Socks, And Other Clothes

Even older garments can offer a second utility before being thrown away. Reusing old towels, socks, or jeans to make teethers for your pets is clear proof of this. In this case, you will always try to use cotton garments as raw material. 

#3. Make Baby Bibs From Used Clothing

Bibs are handy to prevent your babies from staining their clothes. They are garments that are designed to get dirty and wash continuously. If you have fabrics prepared for humidity, such as those used to make technical clothing, raincoats, or swimsuits, you can easily recycle them into long-suffering bibs. 

#4. Recycle The Sleeves Of A Sweater To Make Fingerless Gloves

One of the easiest clothing recycling projects is to cut the sleeves from an old sweater or shirt to make fingerless mittens or gloves. An ideal complement to be able to use your mobile phone in winter without your hands freezing. 

#5. Make A Case For Your Mobile Phone Or Sunglasses

Another good idea to recycle a shirt, sweater, or coat sleeves is to use them to make a protective cover for your mobile phone or shades. This way, you will avoid being rub against other objects when you carry them in the bag. 

#6. Use The Fabric Of Clothing That You Do Not Use To Upholster Chairs And Other Furniture

Using the fabric of your old clothes to upholster your furniture, you will be able to extend the life of the fabrics and add a touch of color to your home. 

#7. Using Denim To Make A Tool Holder Apron

If you like to do DIY projects beyond sewing, a tool holder apron may be handy. The back of some old jeans can provide us with a resistant fabric that you can use as raw material. 

#8. Make Some Slippers From An Old Sweater

If you have a thick wool sweater, you can make some warm slippers to walk around the house. Searching the net a bit, you will find many websites that offer us free patterns that you can use as a model to make them. 

#9. Make A Wall Organizer Out Of Pockets From Old Jeans

Our old jeans’ back pockets can help us keep order in your home if you use them to make organizers, which you can hang on the wall or inside your closets. 

#10. Make Cleaning Cloths From Cotton Garments

Perhaps the easiest way to reuse your old clothes is to recycle them as cleaning cloths. You must always use fabrics made with natural fibers such as cotton since synthetic fibers can scratch glass and other materials.

What do you think of this topic? Have you already recycled any garment? Check out the first part of this article to learn more savvy ways to reuse your old clothes!

30
Oct, 2020

9 Tips for a Waste-Free Party

Your birthday or someone very special is coming, and you’re going to throw a party? Yay! But have you thought about how to minimize waste in the organization of the event? You can plan a super party without garbage and debris! Check out the tips here!

1) Forget the Balloons!

Use colored ribbons that can be reused over the years. They are beautiful and give a lot of life to the environment. A decoration made with handmade or reusable items gives a special touch to the party.

ribbons decoration ceiling - Google Search | Wedding table decorations pink, Ceiling design, Ceiling decor

2) Do Not Exaggerate the Feast

Calculate the number of people coming and the amount of food needed. When in doubt, it is better to estimate a little down than a pile-up because the leftovers are often lost in the end and result in waste. Don’t forget that many children start eating a dish, but don’t finish it. The good idea is to make small amounts of varied dishes. Finally, if you have to buy ingredients in supermarkets, choose ingredients with recyclable packaging and preferably with the I-recycling seal.

3) Choose Reusable Cups, Plates, and Cutlery

Ask family and friends to lend you some extras if necessary. This way, you save money and don’t generate a pile of garbage at the party’s end. When it comes to napkins, fabric napkins are always the best option! A small and seemingly insignificant object, like a napkin, can have a considerable impact on the environment. For instance, if 50% of the American population used one paper napkin three times a day per meal, over one year only, 164,250,000 (yes billion) napkins would be used!

4) Reuse Candles From Previous Parties

The candles on a cake are the center of attention for a few seconds. After they are lit, they still have a lot of life left in them. Reuse them on other occasions!

5) Make Confetti From Leaves

Did you know that confetti is a super polluter? Confetti is often made of paper, but it is also regularly made of plastic. This plastic can end up in the environment after being discarded. A sustainable and festive alternative is to make confetti from leaves yourself. Collect a pile of sturdy leaves and start (with the children) with a punch. Don’t forget the Christmas lights. This ensures a festive and welcoming atmosphere, even if it’s not Christmas.

6) Ask Guests to Reduce the Packaging and the Cards They Buy

The amount of waste the guests produce is surprising. To wrap a gift, only a sheet and a bow, preferably cellophane (since it is recyclable), are enough.

7) Avoid Outdoor Parties

Yes, there won’t be any waste for you, but the amount of waste generated by an out-of-home party is massive. If for some reason you want to do it anyway, a picnic in a park is better. It’s a fun option, and with good planning, it can also be waste-free!

8)Buy or Make Games That Can Be Reused

Reuse toys, milk cartons, boxes, and other things to make games and treasure hunts. The kids will love it! Moreover, you can save them from being used in a new game next year!

9) Don’t Waste Time and Money on Souvenir Bags

Most “souvenirs” are plastic garbage that ends up in a landfill, such as candy, lollipops, and chocolates. Instead, give your guests a piece of cake to take home with them. If you want something more elaborate, give seed and a vase for your guests to plant at home. It will be much more original!

With these tips, you can keep festive waste to a minimum and have more fun!