How can I recycle old ripped clothes?

Question

Charity shops only want decent clothes, so I'm not sure what I can do with my old frayed jeans. I don't want to put them in the garbage because they will end up in landfill.

Does anyone where I can recycle them? I'm in the UK (Scotland).

Answer 1

Believe or not, you can compost them.  Most natural fabrics break down.

Answer 2

Believe or not, you can compost them. Most natural fabrics break down. It will be easier, I think...

Answer 3

Cut them up for rags, they can be used for dusting, cleaning the car, wiping your hands on in the garden, just about anything. And you save on buying cleaning cloths from the supermarket. Alternatively you can give them to charity, who will also cut them up and sell them by the bagload to industry and use the money for their worthwhile causes.

Answer 4

Speak with your local Council they normally have recycle bins which you can use

Answer 5

I'd go with Neil M, you can usually find a good use yourself for them, failing that charity shops have arrangements to recycle clothes they find they can't use.  They usually go off for pulping and often reappear as those flimsy blue cleaning cloths you can buy in a pack.

Answer 6

there is a local recycling bin for clothing in my area. i didn't know what they did with the old clothes, but it made my feel better just putting them in. there was a mixture of good and not so good stuff, towells and tablecloths. i assume some things would go straight to 3rd world countries, other things may have gone to charity shops. i found the bin at my local tesco. good luck!

Answer 7

Some supermarkets have re-cycling bins that will take rags as well as wearable clothes. Just check before you put them in.

Answer 8

well why don't you do something useful with the rags like use them for cleaning or if you have lots of different types of  old clothes put them together and make something new like a skirt if your handy with a needle

Answer 9

I think you'll find that Shelter and Barnados take colthes in any condition. If you just mention to them that the colthes are only suitable for recycling. Both are paid vast sums of money for recycled clothes and have collections from their shops once a week. Many heading for a Glasgow warehouse where the rags are sorted into mixters ie. cotton and wool etc., these are then made into pulp.

Answer 10

I cut up old clothes to use as dusters.  Natural fibres such as cotton can be ripped in very small pieces and composted.

Answer 11

In the UK there are clothes recyling bins in most large supermarket car parks.  If you take them there then they are meant to go to third world countries etc.  where people are grateful for any contributions.

Answer 12

If you put them in the civic amenity sites clothes recycle unit, they will sort it and some end up stuffing for matresses.  Only can you not recycle them into something funky for a church fete?