Bedford Borough Council has announced the removal of five textile recycling banks across the Borough, in response to national changes in the textile recycling sector and ongoing work to keep sites clean and well managed.
The following Council-operated textile banks have now been removed:
• Car Park, Kingswood Way, Great Denham, MK40 4FB
• Mowsbury Park Car Park, Wentworth Drive, Putnoe, MK41 8DQ
• Mowsbury Park Car Park, Kimbolton Road, Putnoe, MK41 8AH
• Prebend Street Car Park, Prebend Street, MK42 9AP
• Priory Country Park, Barkers Lane, MK41 9SH
Across the UK, textile recycling operators have been reducing the number of banks they manage due to lower resale values for used textiles, rising operating and transport costs, and issues such as contamination and fly-tipping at some sites. As a result, some local textile banks are no longer viable to operate, and councils have been reviewing the number and location of sites they host.
A number of textile recycling banks in Bedford Borough remain in place, including at the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Barkers Lane, and are operated by third parties. Residents can find details of remaining mini recycling sites by visiting www.bedford.gov.uk/MiniRecyclingSites. Residents can also use the Recycle Now Recycling Locator, available via www.bedford.gov.uk/MyBins, to find nearby recycling points for textiles and many other everyday materials.
As well as using textile banks and the Recycling Locator, residents are encouraged to consider other ways to pass on unwanted clothes, bedding, shoes and accessories so they can be reused. This could include donating good quality items, giving them away through online community groups or swap events, selling items on second-hand platforms, or using retailer take-back schemes where offered. Where items are too worn to be reused, residents should check the Recycling Locator for textile recycling options, so they stay out of the bin.
Councillor Nicky Gribble, Portfolio Holder for Environment said; “We know that many residents want to do the right thing with unwanted clothes and textiles, and we remain committed to supporting recycling and reuse wherever we can. Recent national changes in the textile recycling industry mean some banks are no longer sustainable to operate.
“I would urge residents to use the Recycle Now Recycling Locator, as well as other reuse options, to find other ways to pass items on and continue helping us cut waste and keep our Borough clean.”
The Council will continue to monitor developments in the textile recycling market and explore options to support residents to recycle and reuse textiles in future, as part of its wider work to reduce waste and improve recycling rates.
Bedford Borough Council would also like to remind residents that clothing, shoes and other textiles should not go in their orange-lidded bins. The bin will not be collected if textiles are found inside.