WRAP has launched a new programme to improve the collection, reuse and recycling of post-consumer textiles in the UK, with funding from NEXT, Primark and Tesco.

Textile collection under pressure

According to WRAP, UK households discard around 546,000 tonnes of textiles annually in residual waste, accounting for 49% of post-consumer textiles. The cost of collecting and sorting used textiles is estimated at £88 million per year, as revenues from reusable clothing no longer cover the costs of handling non-reusable materials.

Industry-wide action plan

The Textiles Collections Transition Programme has completed its initial research phase and is moving into stakeholder workshops to develop practical solutions. A blueprint is expected in spring 2027.

The programme aims to increase textile reuse, improve feedstock availability for fibre-to-fibre recycling and establish a financially sustainable collection system.

Source: WRAP, Image credit: unsplash+