Local Authority Textile Collections Situational Report

WRAP’s Textile Collection Situation Report for Local Authorities explores the current textile collection landscape in England. It highlights challenges and opportunities for implementing textile collection schemes, alongside a series of case studies.

In 2023, the Committee of Public Accounts reported that Defra anticipates Simpler Recycling will raise recycling rates from 42% to between 52% and 60% by 2035, falling short of the 65% municipal recycling target. Improving the collection, reuse and recycling of textiles could help close this gap but, as this report shows, collection schemes do not come without challenges. This situational report maps the current system, identifies key barriers and opportunities, and draws on case studies from across England to present a clear picture of the current textile collections landscape.

Key findings

• Since 2013/14 there has been a steady decline in the number of LAs offering a textile kerbside collection. This may be explained by the declining market prices of used textiles or LAs focussing on other materials, especially since the introduction of Simpler Recycling. In the 2023/24 reporting period, 73 English Local Authorities (LAs) offered a kerbside collection service for textiles, with 222 LAs relying on alternative collection systems.
• The research highlights that local authority textile-collection schemes offer a wealth of potential benefits, including support for charities and reuse schemes, increased recycling rates, reduced residual waste (key with ETS on the horizon), more equitable and accessible services, and potential reputational advantages for Local Authorities. These services have the potential to play a role in diverting textiles from disposal, contributing to broader sustainability goals and supporting waste hierarchy principles.
• However, there are several challenges preventing the implementation of textile collection schemes. These include financial pressures, operational and logistical changes, prioritisation of other material streams, citizen engagement and onward market concerns. Throughout the interviews conducted with various stakeholders, it was reported that income from textiles is declining, the quality of donations is decreasing as a growing share of ‘the cream’ is being sold on peer-to-peer resale platforms and, at the same time, the volume of textiles is rising. Downstream infrastructure for reprocessing and fibre-to-fibre recycling also remains limited, with transparency around end markets remaining low. Kerbside collection for reuse can also face contamination issues, and citizen confusion over what is reusable can reduce the effectiveness of collections. Clear communication across both kerbside and bring-bank schemes is therefore essential.
• This report has shown that textile collection systems are complex, and a mixed approach is likely needed, tailored to the needs and preferences of residents. A host of potential opportunities, alongside case studies of where textile collection schemes are being successfully implemented or trialled, are shown.
• Many stakeholders consulted for this research highlighted the importance of policy measures such as EPR and the potential of technological advances, particularly automated sorting, to strengthen the system. Sustained behaviour-change efforts and a stronger emphasis on retaining material value before textiles enter the waste stream were said to be critical for improving the performance and efficiency of future collection schemes.