Clothes placed in the textile bank are taken to a warehouse for sorting and separated into those good enough to wear again and those that aren't.
Around 43% of the textiles collected are good enough to wear again. These are given to charities who distribute them, are placed in charity shops for resale or exported to needy countries around the world.
Non-wearable clothing or other old textiles are taken to a reprocessing plant. About 7 % of the textiles collected are taken for reprocessing.
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22% will be used as filling for furniture, vehicle seats etc;
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12% will be used as industrial rags or wiping cloths;
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9% are shoes which can be reused;
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Only 7% cannot be used again.
The fibre reclamation process
The mills grade incoming material by material type and colour. The colour sorting means no re-dying has to take place, saving energy and pollutants. Initially the material is shredded into fibres then spun ready for reweaving or knitting. The new yarns can then be used to make new items.
The new fibres can be used to make new clothes, furnishings, blankets, towels and many more things.
Clothes are exported to Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.