The Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL) has removed its clothing banks across Bedford Borough as part of national changes to its network. This follows major challenges in the textiles recycling market, including lower resale prices, higher transport and running costs, and an increase in low-quality clothing linked to fast fashion. These removals are happening across the country and are not decisions made by Bedford Borough Council.
Bedford Borough Council is exploring other options to reinstate clothing and textile banks at these sites, where possible. However, the whole textile recycling industry is struggling, and many operators have reduced or stopped their services. A number of clothing and textile banks remain available in some clothing retailers, such as Primark and Dunelm. Clothing, shoes, and textiles must not be placed in household orange-lidded wheelie bins, however, a number of mini-recycling centres across Bedford Borough, and the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Barkers Lane, Bedford, continue to accept textiles. Residents can find options available on the Recycling Locator at www.bedford.gov.uk/MyBins
Following feedback from the Resources Waste Strategy consultation, Bedford Borough Council is also considering the feasibility of a collection service for textiles. 46% of respondents indicated that they would use a free monthly bookable kerbside collection of textiles via a third-party contractor.
Councillor Nicola Gribble, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “We know how important recycling is to our residents, and we’re working to find other options where we can. In the meantime, please keep donating or reusing your good quality clothes through other routes, such as local charity shops, some retail stores and online options like Freegle, Freecycle, and Vinted. Please don’t leave bags at or beside removed banks, it creates a mess and may lead to a Fixed Penalty Notice.”
The market for textiles has changed rapidly. Rebates that councils used to earn from collected clothing have fallen by around 98% in just a couple of years, and in some cases, councils now face costs to recycle these materials.
Residents can still do their part to reuse or recycle clothing and shoes by:
- repairing or altering items - if that can’t be done at home, items can be taken to a clothing alteration company or pop along to a local Repair Café event
- donating good-quality items to local charity shops or some clothing retail stores - in-store clothes recycling points can be found on the Recycling Locator at www.bedford.gov.uk/MyBins
- order a doorstep collection directly from a charity, or a company – Recycle Now suggests Anglo Recycling as an example
- using online resale or donation sites such as Vinted, eBay, Freegle, or Freecycle
- take textiles to the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Barkers Lane: www.bedford.gov.uk/HWRC
- use a mini recycling site in Bedford Borough that accepts textiles, find a list at: www.bedford.gov.uk/MiniRecyclingSites
Clothes and textiles that are in good condition can be donated and sold for re-use. Items that aren’t suitable for re-use can be recycled and used in other ways, for example, padding for chairs, cleaning cloths, and industrial blankets.
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.