Skip to main content
  • agÌåÓýÅÌ¿Ú us
  • Events
  • News
  • Partners
  • FAQs

Search form

Main menu

  • Home
  • What to do with...
    • Popular items
    • Aerosols
    • Batteries
    • Clothing & textiles
    • Electrical items
    • Face coverings (masks) and PPE
    • Mobile phones
    • Plastic film & carrier bags
    • All items
  • Local recycling
  • Recycling knowledge
    • Getting started
    • How is it recycled?
    • Recycling around your home
    • Recycling from the bathroom
    • Food recycling
    • Recycling symbols explained
    • Facts and info
    • Northern Ireland
    • Recycle Week campaign
  • Reduce waste
    • 5 easy steps to reduce waste
    • Buying habits
    • Repair and re-use
    • Packaging and storage
    • Donate, sell and swap
    • Junk mail
    • Composting

What to do with

Clothing & textiles

Please note that recycling collections and facilities may be affected by the COVID-19 situation. Please check with your local authority for updates about services. Read more

We all have clothes or textiles such as curtains, duvet covers and blankets that we don’t want any more or are past their best.

But did you know that in the UK around 336,000 tonnes of our unwanted clothing gets thrown away every year?

The good news is that there are lots of simple ways to keep all clothing in use, and out of the bin.

Clothes and textiles that are in good condition can be donated and sold for re-use. This is an important way to minimise the overall impact that clothing has on our environment.

Items that aren’t suitable to be passed onto someone else can be recycled and made into new items, such as padding for chairs and car seats, cleaning cloths and industrial blankets.

How to recycle unwanted clothes & textiles

  • Check to see if your council collects clothes and textiles to be recycled.
  • Drop off your unwanted items at recycling points and clothing and textile banks in supermarket and local car parks – enter your postcode below to find your nearest.
  • Donate items to registered charities and re-use organisations. will help you to find your nearest charity shop.
  • One of the most convenient ways to donate clothes is through registered charity collection services. Some charities, such as The British Heart Foundation, offer a free clothing collection service from your home. It's easy to arrange via their website. You don't even need to order a bag, just re-use your own bags and boxes from home.
  • If you are fundraising for your school, church or organisations such as Girl Guides or Scouts, there are textile companies who can arrange a collection to help you to raise money for your cause.

  • Many high street retailers such as Primark and M&S now offer clothing donation banks in-store. These are sometimes called 'bring back schemes'. This means that next time you pop out to the shops, you can drop off a bag of your old clothes. Simple!
Could you give your clothes a second life? Visit the for tips and guides to help you keep your clothes looking great and in use for longer.
Caring for and repairing your clothes

What to do with...

  • Popular items
  • Aerosols
  • Batteries
  • Clothing & textiles
  • Electrical items
  • Face coverings (masks) and PPE
  • Mobile phones
  • Plastic film & carrier bags
  • All items

Related websites

Related content

Find out how to recycle:

  • Bras
  • Corporate workwear
  • School uniforms
  • Shoes and boots

Register for useful recycling news and tips delivered straight to your inbox

Around the UK

  • Recycle Now
  • Northern Ireland
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Community guidelines
  • Cookies
  • Contact

Brought to you by

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (which operates as WRAP) is a registered UK Charity No. 1159512 and registered as a Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No. 4125764.

agÌåÓýÅÌ¿Ú, Blenheim Court, 19 George Street, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 5BH.