Council for Textile Recycling Launches Education Initiative Promoting Clothing Recycling

By Jim.Robinson|January 5, 2012

Each year, the global textile and apparel industry produces about 25 billion pounds of clothing, linens, belts and shoes. According to The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, only about 15% of post-consumer textiles enter the recycling stream, while 21 billion pounds – about 70 pounds for each person on Earth – ends up in landfills.

That’s why there’s never been a better time for clothing brands, retailers, consumers, municipalities, charitable organizations, academics and recyclers to join forces and promote the recycling of clothing and textiles. The Council for Textile Recycling (CTR) has recently launched its new website, www.weardonaterecycle.org, to educate the public on the importance of recycling all clothing and textiles, not just those that are “gently worn.”

According to Eric Stubin, CTR’s chairman, the Council’s news website reflects the organization’s slogan: “Wear. Donate. Recycle.”

“Our goal is to have zero post-consumer textile waste going into landfills by 2037,” Stubin says. “In the United States, the average person discards 70 pounds of their old clothing, shoes and household textiles in their local landfill each year. We’re educating people that clothing and textiles are among the most recyclable items in their home.”

Source: Council for Textile Recycling. Edited by Mike McCue, Editor.