Old clothing

Most of us have clothes tucked away in wardrobes that no longer fit, might be damaged, or just not worn anymore. Before throwing them away, consider the options below. And help reduce waste and give your unwanted textiles a new lease of life.

Repair

Got a favourite jumper with a small hole or a well-loved T-shirt that's seen better days? You don't always need to replace it. Simple repairs can help extend the life of your clothing. And there are plenty of online tutorials and guides to help you mend, patch and refresh your garments.

Rehome

If your clothes are still clean and in good condition, consider passing them on to someone else who can make use of them.

Charity shops and clothing donation banks are a great way to give unwanted items a second life. And support good causes at the same time.

We're also working in partnership with Biffa on a series of textile donation drives. Our first appeal is the Winter Coats Appeal, running from 9 to 15 November. You can donate unwanted, but clean and wearable coats and jackets at selected donation points in the district. Donated coats will be distributed to local people who need them most this winter.

More information about the appeal will be added to this web page soon. 

You could also consider selling unwanted clothing through online websites, like Vinted or Depop.

Recycle

Clothes, shoes or textiles which are no longer wearable and cannot be repaired or reused can still be recycled.

Unwanted textiles can be taken to one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres or Bring Sites. Here they can be collected for recycling.

Please don't put textiles in your household bins.

Clothing, shoes and other textiles should not be placed in any of your household bins. When textiles end up in household bins, they can become tangled in machinery at the treatment facility. This causes damage and costly repairs.

Small actions can make a big difference. By giving unwanted textiles a second life, you can help reduce waste. And make the most of valuable resources.