Fabric Recycling

Fabric waste, also known as textile waste, is any unwanted, discarded, or unusable items or pieces of scrap made from any type of textile. This includes cotton, linen, wool, nylon, polyester, denim, and synthetic fibres. It can refer to offcuts from the manufacturing process, extra stock, and damaged items (such as ripped, stained, or soiled items).

There are three main kinds of fabric waste:

• Pre-consumer fabric waste – manufacturing and design waste such as swatch waste (textile samples), scraps and offcuts, end-of-roll waste (surplus fabric after manufacturing), and damaged textiles (colour, print, or size defects).
• Post-consumer fabric waste – any waste fabrics after consumers have used it like second-hand clothing, home furnishings, and other textiles that are damaged, soiled, or simply discarded.
• Industrial fabric waste – commercial fabric waste from businesses and industrial applications including carpets, curtains, and bedding from businesses like hotels, offices, and restaurants.

To recycle fabric from your business you should first segregate it from other waste and store it in separate bins, bags, or containers for fabric recycling. You can combine different fabric materials and textiles in these bins but must keep other rubbish out of them. This reduces the risk of contamination to ensure as much fabric scrap as possible is recycled.

Then arrange collection of your old fabric by licensed waste carriers. They will transport it to a materials recovery facility (MRF) where the fabrics are sorted, separated, cleaned, and assessed. The type of fabric and its condition affects how it might be recycled. These are some common methods of fabric recycling:

• Respinning – many items made from 100% natural fabrics such as wool, cotton, silk and linen can be broken down into their raw materials and reused to create new textiles. First, the textiles are sorted into each fabric type and then they’re cleaned to remove any contaminants. They’re then pulled apart to separate the fibres, which are spun to create new yarn and fabrics that can be woven or knitted to form new textiles.
• Shredding – non-natural textiles like polyester are usually recycled by being shredded. This creates small pieces of fabric that can then be melted and turned into new polyester. Some fabrics are shredded and used to form insulation or for filling, such as to fill car seats and cushions.
• Chemical recycling – this is a less used method for recycling fabrics such as polyester and nylon and mixed fabrics. Chemicals are used to break down the polymers that make up fabrics. They’re then cleaned and purified to remove contaminants and re-polymerised to create new fabrics and textiles.

Get rid of any type and volume of waste fabric from your business anywhere in the UK. We provide free bins to separate and store your old fabric in various sizes that can accommodate the amount you produce. This includes bins, bags, and containers suitable for shops, factories, hotels, and other companies.

Arrange collection of your commercial fabric waste on a daily, weekly, or fortnightly basis. Combine the best number and sizes of bins with a collection schedule that’s efficient and cost-effective. All bins are removed by licensed waste carriers and transported safely to a nearby MRF for recycling.

This ensures your waste fabric is recycled and disposed of away from landfill to help protect the environment and save you money. Organise collections at a time and day that slots in well with your operations. Flexible options are available to suit seasonality and other changes in your fabric recycling needs.

You receive a free duty of care certificate too. This includes details about when and where your fabric waste was removed, who by, and where and how it was disposed of to provide proof and peace of mind that your waste fabric is managed responsibly.