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.
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.