How Clothes are Recycled

Recycling old clothes is a great way to reduce waste and promote sustainability in the fashion industry. RCYCL is a service that enables all of us to RCYCL our old clothes rather than throw them in the bin and therefore add to the 780,000 tonnes of textile waste that Australia is responsible for each year. We work with the longest standing textile recycler in Australia, they have a long standing relationship with an Indian mill who is able to break down our clothing and repurpose it into new yarn and carpet underlay.

Their process is similar to this:

1. SORTING

The first step in the process is sorting the textiles. This involves separating clothes and other textiles into different categories based on their material type, quality and condition.

2. CLEANING

Once the textiles have been sorted, they're cleaned thoroughly to remove any dirt, stains or odours. This ensures that the textiles are hygienic and ready for reuse or recycling.

3. PROCESSING

After cleaning, the textiles are processed based on their material type. Natural fibres like cotton, wool, and silk are sorted and processed separately from synthetic materials like polyester and nylon.

4. RECYCLING

This involves breaking down the materials into their component fibres, which can be used to create new yarn or other products.  

By reducing textile waste, we're helping to conserve resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote a circular economy. Utilising our services at RCYCL is an easy and effective way to make a positive impact on the environment and be a part of a growing movement towards sustainability in the fashion industry.