Stockport residents urged to give old clothes – including school uniforms – a new life with textile recycling

Each year thousands of tonnes of textiles are thrown away in Greater Manchester, with 16,700 tonnes put in general waste bins in 2023/24. On average each person in the UK throws away 35 items of clothing in the general waste bin every year, from socks with holes in to ripped or baggy t-shirts. Much of this also comes from ‘fast fashion’, with poor quality clothes sold cheaply before being quickly thrown away.

While many people recycle their unwanted clothes by donating them to charity or selling them online, many may be unaware that damaged clothes and textiles can also be recycled.

Stockport has textile banks at its 3 recycling centres, with many also housed in supermarket carparks and in some large clothing stores.

All clothes from these banks are hand-sorted in Greater Manchester. Clothing that can’t be re-worn is recycled into something new like animal bedding, carpet underlay and even car seats, right here in the UK.

And from next week, look out for a rainbow themed ‘washing line’ appearing at Merseyway Shopping Centre to promote the campaign

As well as this, Stockport Council has recently issued an appeal to any families with spare or unused school uniforms to donate their items, provided they are in good condition, as part of a brand new scheme to be launched later this year.

The aim is to reduce unnecessary waste, and to help families who may be in need of support.

Uniforms can be donated at any of the following locations:

• Any of Stockport's 16 libraries
• Bredbury or Reddish Morrisons supermarkets
• Disability Stockport, 23 High Street, Stockport, SK1 1EG
• Age UK Stockport, Commonweal, 56 Wellington St, Stockport, SK1 3AQ
• Stockport Signpost for Carers, The Heatons Centre, Thornfield Road, Stockport, SK4 3LD

Once the uniforms have been collected, the new scheme will run throughout the school year – more details will be available soon.