Weinviertel starts old clothing sack project for sustainable textile use

Weinviertel starts old clothing sack project for sustainable textile use

In the Austrian Weinviertel, five waste associations have initiated a remarkable project to help significantly reduce the amount of unused clothing, which often ends up in residual waste. The project bears the name "Weinviertler old clothes bag" and aims to offer an effective and simple system for the collection of old clothes.

The participating organizations are G.V.U. District Gänserndorf, GV Hollabrunn, Korneuburg waste association, Gaum Mistelbach and Gaul Laa/Thaya. The concern is clear: resource conservation and a better recycling rate should be achieved. “The Weinviertler old clothing sack” is designed according to the needs of the citizens to make the old clothing collection more efficient.

background of the Initiative

The research figures on buying behavior show that around 50 to 60 new clothes are bought per person every year. This trend is known as "Fast Fashion", in which clothing is used faster and often disposed of in the trash. Alarming statistics show that a large part of the sorted clothing, almost half, ends up in the residual waste and thus lost valuable raw materials.

Stefanie de Krassny, a spokeswoman for the waste disposal company Öpula, said: "About 50 percent can be reused by the collected items of clothing, 20 percent are used in the insulation industry, while only 10 percent end as residual waste." These figures illustrate the great potential of the project to promote further environmentally friendly practices.

Angelika Büchler, the managing director of the Hollabrunn waste association, emphasizes the importance of a clean and structured waste collection: "The Weinviertel old clothing bag should ensure that old dresses are properly disposed of so that they are not unusable."

plans and goals of the initiative

From 2025, a mandatory separate collection of old dresses in the EU is expected. "The challenges of recycling are great, but at the same time they represent a valuable chance," said Kurt Wilhelm (ÖPULA) and Henning Mörch (Humana). By 2035, the initiative is planning to re -use 65 percent of the materials collected.

The old clothing bags can be picked up in several municipalities and the responsible association offices. Citizens can hand over their collected old dresses to the respective delivery containers that are accessible around the clock. These are then brought into sorting works where they are categorized-either for the second-hand market or for other recycling processes.

Ms. Zanini Friday from the Federal Environment Agency explains the serious environmental impact of the textile industry. A disturbing fact is that the industry is responsible for 20 percent of global wastewater and enormous water consumption. Without immediate measures, this sector could cause 26 percent of CO₂ emissions by 2050. Against this background, it is crucial that regional measures such as the "Weinviertler old clothing bag" are taken to combat global problems.

What belongs in the old clothing bag?

• women's, men's and children's clothing
• bed linen, table linen and household textiles
• shoes, handbags, and the like
• fur and leather clothing
• Accessoires such as belts, hats and ties
• soft toys

However, there are also some restrictions. The following should not end up in the old clothing bag:

• wet or dirty clothing
• single broken shoes
• used socks and tights
• upholstery, blankets and carpets
• mattresses and remnants of fabric

The tax offices in the Weinviertel are clearly defined: Gänserndorf and Hollabrunn work on the collection via Humana, while in Mistelbach and Korneuburg Öpula and Borner are responsible.

Overall, the “Weinviertler old clothing sack” project is an important initiative to raise awareness of sustainability and recycling in the field of textiles and to make a positive contribution to environmentally friendly solutions in the region. More information and details are in the current article www.meinbezirk.at to be found.