Recycling clothes, shoes and textiles
Recycling clothes, shoes and textiles
You should not put clothes, shoes and textiles in your rubbish bin or recycling bin, box or bag at home.
Good quality clothes, shoes or textiles can be reused by:
- Selling them online
- Giving them away
- Donating them to charity
- Donating to Lifeafterhummus, to be reused in the community
You can find more tips on what to do with good quality unwanted clothes, shoes and textiles.
Find support and advice on how to set up a school uniform exchange or a guide to holding a clothes swap.
Old items that can’t be reused
You can recycle old clothes, shoes and textiles at Regis Road reuse and recycling centre or in an Oxfam Clothing Bank.
Most things made of fabric can be recycled, including:
- towels
- sheets
- blankets
- soft furnishings, for example a cushion cover
Collecting clothes, shoes and textiles
If you live in a house or house divided into flats, we may be able to collect your clothes, shoes or textiles on the same day as your regular recycling.
You can:
or contact Veolia.
Duvets, pillows and cushions cannot be recycled and should not be put in your clothes, shoes and textiles recycling bag.
Traid also collect unwanted clothes from houses, estates and flats in London.
What happens to clothes, shoes and textiles when they are recycled
If they can still be worn or used, they are given to charity shops. Clothes and textiles that cannot be used again can be sold for other uses.