Worn and soiled textiles still belong in residual waste – hardly any changes in disposal
Meppen. The Emsland district waste management company (AWB) would like to point out that as of January 1, there is a new legal obligation to collect used textiles separately in accordance with the EU Waste Framework Directive and the Closed Substance Cycle Waste Management Act. In practice, however, hardly anything will change in the district of Emsland.
Many consumers are unsure about how to dispose of textiles and used clothing, partly due to unclear media reports. In the district of Emsland, used clothing is collected throughout the district by charitable organizations and associations, by commercial providers and by the AWB in containers or through house collections and given for recycling – a tried and tested system that is to be continued. However, only items of clothing that are in good condition and can still be worn should be placed in these collections, as well as table linen, bed linen, comforters, curtains, dryer sheets and shoes in good condition from private households. Alternatively, the AWB recommends handing in clothes that are still wearable to second-hand stores, social department stores or charitable organizations.
Worn, worn or soiled textiles should continue to be disposed of in the residual waste garbage can. This is expressly pointed out, as false or misleading reports are currently circulating in this regard. The above-mentioned new regulation merely states that intact clothing may no longer be disposed of as residual waste, but must be collected separately and recycled. The aim is to ensure high-quality collection, sorting and recycling of used textiles in order to make the consumption of textiles more sustainable. However, used textiles disposed of in the residual waste garbage can are not recycled, but thermally recovered – i.e. incinerated.
It should also be noted that oil-soiled rags or textiles with pollutant-containing adhesions, for example from hobby workshops, must not be disposed of in the residual waste, but must be handed in at the pollutant mobile or at the pollutant interim storage facility in Wesuwe.
The AWB emphasizes that the desirable sustainable use of textiles should start with shopping: Consumers should already then consider whether items of clothing are really needed and give priority to quality and durability instead of opting for short-lived “fast fashion”. “Conscious and sustainable shopping can reduce the amount of used textiles from the outset. This not only helps to conserve resources, but also reduces the need for disposal and recycling. High-quality and timeless items of clothing can often be used for longer and need to be replaced less often, which ultimately also reduces the burden on the environment,” says Heinz Bökers, Operations Manager of AWB Landkreis Emsland.
As far as the AWB is aware, there is a comprehensive network of around 490 collection containers at around 290 locations in the district of Emsland. Of these, the charitable organizations have a share of around 320 containers at around 200 locations. The remaining containers are set up by commercial collectors. Only clean, wearable items of clothing in good condition should be disposed of here.
The AWB also collects intact old clothes in appropriate containers at the four central landfill sites in Venneberg, Flechum, Wesuwe and Dörpen. Items of clothing that are no longer wearable and damaged can also be handed in at the aforementioned central landfill sites for disposal as residual waste.
