Environmentally friendly residents of Sevenoaks District whose efforts are helping less fortunate people overseas are being urged to continue recycling their unwanted clothes and textiles.

Residents currently recycle over 250 tonnes of clothing and unwanted textiles a year at recycling centres situated across the District putting Sevenoaks District in the top 25% nationally for recycling these materials.

The clothing is collected by charity organisations the Salvation Army and TRAID and sorted into categories. Light summer clothing is sent to Africa and heavier clothing is sent to Eastern Europe. Any left over textiles are recycled and used to produce items such as mattresses and car padding.

Twenty nine of the Council’s recycling sites accept clothing and textiles for recycling and a further nine sites can take unwanted shoes.

Cllr Felicity Broomby, the Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for recycling, says: "Unwanted clothing forms an important part of the 650 tonnes of material that is recycled in the District every month. Anyone who has any unwanted clothes and textiles can take them down to their nearest recycling site. As long as they are clean and in one piece they can be recycled and put to good use to help others.”

Sevenoaks District residents currently recycle around 30% of their household waste.
 
It has been estimated that the UK consumes around one million tonnes of new clothing each year, and around 500,000 tonnes of textiles such as curtains and dusters.

For more information on Sevenoaks District Council’s recycling services, including a list of recycling sites in the District, visit the Council’s website, www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/recycling, e-mail recycling@sevenoaks.gov.uk or call 01732 227000.