New EU law: What you need to know about the disposal of old clothes!

From 2023, new regulations for the disposal of textiles will apply in the European Union. The regulation stipulates that old textiles must be collected separately. However, heavily soiled, damaged or contaminated clothing should be disposed of in the residual waste bin. The aim of these new requirements is to optimize recycling and increase the return rate of used textiles. Clothes in good condition should continue to go into used clothing containers in order to improve recycling processes. Heavily worn or contaminated textiles cannot be recycled efficiently and there is currently no sustainable solution for recycling them.

A free collection system for used clothes has existed in the Wesermarsch for many years. The corresponding containers are set up in supermarket parking lots, in residential areas and at recycling centers. Overfilled containers are a problem: items of clothing are not allowed to be placed next to the containers, as this is considered illegal waste disposal and can result in fines. GIB Disposal Wesermarsch has not set up its own collection containers and is not responsible for emptying and cleaning them; This responsibility lies with the recyclers who set up the containers.

EU regulations for textile disposal

In addition to the existing regulations, the requirements will change from January 1, 2025, when used textiles in the EU must be collected separately from other waste. This measure aims to reduce the number of textiles burned or landfilled each year and to promote reuse and recycling. In Germany, over a million tons of old textiles end up in containers every year, with only around 50% of the textiles collected still being usable. Around 10% of these usable textiles go directly to people in need, while the rest is often marketed outside the EU.

The proportion of used textiles recorded separately in the EU is around 22%. Globally, it is estimated that less than 1% of used textiles are recycled into new products. In Germany, collection is mainly carried out by non-profit organizations and the collection rate is between 50% and 65%. In other EU countries, such as Latvia and Spain, the collection rate is significantly lower, at 5% and 12% respectively. In order to improve recycling, “extended producer responsibility” is being discussed, in which manufacturers have to pay for collection, sorting and recycling. At the moment there is already extended producer responsibility in the EU for other product groups such as batteries and packaging.

Mixed fibers in textiles are particularly challenging for recycling, which often means that many textiles have to be burned after sorting. In addition, there is currently a lack of regulations for ecological design of textiles in the EU. Consumers are encouraged to buy less, choose long-lasting products and pay attention to labels such as the Blue Angel or the Green Button. Clothes swaps and second-hand purchases are also recommended as sustainable alternatives.