New EU rules: This is how you dispose of old clothes correctly!
New EU rules: This is how you dispose of old clothes correctly!
At the beginning of 2025, new regulations for disposal of old clothes come into force in Hamm. From January 1, 2025, old clothes may only be disposed of in exceptional cases via the residual waste bin. These changes were explained by the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASH) in Hamm and are in line with a new EU directive.
used textiles such as clothing, bed sheets, towels and curtains will have to be disposed of via old clothing containers in the future. The quality of the donated textiles is crucial to ensure sensible further use. Well -preserved clothing can also be donated to charitable facilities. Demolved, broken or heavily dirty textile material, on the other hand, should continue to be disposed of via the residual waste bin. Intact clothing in residual waste can even lead to the ton not being emptied.
EU requirements for textile disposal
The regulation in Hamm reflects the new requirements of the EU, which also come into force on January 1, 2025. According to the EU guidelines, used textiles must be collected separately from other waste throughout the European Union. The aim of these requirements is to reduce the amount of annually burned or deposited textiles and to promote reuse and recycling of materials.
In Germany, over one million tons of old textiles end up in containers every year; However, only about 50 % of these textiles collected are still useful as clothing. Around 10 % of the usable old textiles go directly to the needy, while the rest are often marketed, often outside the EU. The proportion of old textiles that are recorded separately in the EU is currently around 22 %. According to estimates, under 1 % of textiles are recycled into new products worldwide.
Due to the variety of materials, the sorting of textiles is not only personnel -intensive, but also expensive. The challenges include modern mixed fibers that make recycling difficult. While the old clothing collection in Germany is mainly via non -profit organizations, the collection rate is between 50 and 65 %depending on the estimate. In some EU countries such as Latvia and Spain, this quota is significantly lower, with values of 5 % or 12 %.
In order to further improve the recycling of textiles, an "extended responsibility of manufacturer" is also discussed. This regulation would oblige the manufacturers to pay for the collection, sorting and recycling of their products. Fewer purchases, the choice of long-lasting products and the view of second-hand options are further tips that are intended to help consumers reduce ecological footprint. Label such as the blue angel or the green button can offer orientation.
For further information on the new regulations and EU requirements for old textile disposal, visit the articles from and ZDF .
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