Textile Recycling Process

Textile Clothing and fabric generally consists of composites of cotton (biodegradable material) and synthetic plastics. The textiles composition will affect its durability and method of recycling.

Fiber reclamation mills grade incoming material into type and color. The color sorting means no re-dying has to take place, saving energy and pollutants. The textiles are shredded into shoddy fibers and blended with other selected fibers, depending on the intended end use of the recycled yarn. The blended mixture is carded to clean and mix the fibers and spun ready for weaving or knitting. The fibers can also be compressed for mattress production. Textiles sent to the flocking industry are shredded to make filling material for car insulation, roofing felts, loudspeaker cones, panel linings and furniture padding.
Fabric Recycling
For specialized polyester based materials the recycling process is significantly different. The first step is to remove the buttons and zippers then to cut the garments into small pieces. The shredded fabric is then granulated and formed into small pellets. The pellets are broken down polymerized and turned into polyester chips. The chips are melted and spun into new filament fiber used to make new polyester fabrics.
Some companies are creating new pieces of clothing from

Textile Waste Facts

It is estimated that more than 1 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year, with most of this coming from household sources. Textiles make up about 3% by weight of a household bin. At least 50% of the textiles we throw away are recyclable, however, the proportion of textile wastes reused or recycled annually in the UK is only around 25%.
Sources of Textile Waste
Majority of textile waste comes from household sources. Average lifetime of any clothing is deemed to be for about 3 years, after which, they are thrown away as old clothes. Sometimes even 'not so worn garments' are also discarded as they become unfashionable, or undesirable. These are post-consumer waste that goes to jumble sales and charitable organizations. Most recovered household textiles coming to these organizations, are sold or donated. The remaining ones go to either a textile recovery facility or the landfill.
Textile waste also arise during yarns and fabric manufacturing, apparel-making processes and from the retail industry. They are the post-industrial waste. Apart from these textile wastes other wastes such as PET bottles etc. are also used for recycling polyester fiber.

Recycling and Waste  

Most of the people willing for donating their used clothes prefer door-to-door pickup which is often conducted by nonprofit organizations within or otherwise municipal or county programs. Only few people go out of their way to make a drop off. Some counties even collect used textiles with frequent curbside recyclables pickup. Others go for less frequent quarterly or annual pickups. Textiles are generally not sorted at the point of collection. However, keeping them clean and free from moisture is significant. Wet, stained, or mildewed clothes cannot be sold for reuse. To avoid contamination, many charities also offer enclosed drop-off boxes for clothing or other fabrics.

Post Industrial Waste | Post Consumer Waste

Although the majority of textile waste originates from household sources, waste textiles also arise during yarn and fabric manufacture, garment-making processes and from the retail industry. These are termed post-industrial waste, as opposed to the post-consumer waste which goes to jumble sales and charity shops. Together they provide a vast potential for recovery and recycling.

Textile Recycling

 Textile recycling is the method of reusing or reprocessing used clothing, fibrous material and clothing scraps from the manufacturing process. Textiles in municipal solid waste are found mainly in discarded clothing, although other sources include furniture, carpets, tires, footwear, and nondurable goods such as sheets and towels.

Majority of textile waste comes from household sources. Average lifetime of any clothing is deemed to be for about 3 years, after which, they are thrown away as old clothes. Sometimes even 'not so worn garments' are also discarded as they become unfashionable, or undesirable. These are post-consumer waste that goes to jumble sales and charitable organizations. Most recovered household textiles coming to these organizations, are sold or donated. The remaining ones go to either a textile recovery facility or the landfill.

Textile waste also arise during yarns and fabric manufacturing, apparel-making processes and from the retail industry. They are the post-industrial waste. Apart from these textile wastes other wastes such as PET bottles etc. are also used for recycling polyester fiber.

Why is Recycling Important

Textile recycling is for both, environmental and economic benefits. It avoids many polluting and energy intensive processes that are used to make textiles from fresh materials.

• The requirement of landfill space is reduced. Textiles lead to many problems in landfill. Synthetic fibers don't decompose. Woolen garments do decompose but produce methane, which contributes to global warming.

• Pressure on fresh resources too is reduced.

• Leads to balance of payments as we buy fewer materials for our requirements.

• As fibers get locally available, they don't have to be transported from abroad thus reducing pollution and saving energy.

• Lesser energy is consumed while processing, as items don't need to be re-dyed or scoured.

• Waste water reduces as it does not have to be thoroughly washed with large volumes of water as it is done for, say, raw wool.

• Demand is reduced for textile chemicals like dyes and fixing agents.