Post clothes lottery
How incentives and access affect textile recycling across UK communities
James Beard
April 27, 2022
My last blog, Textile waste: What happens to old clothes, looked at how consumers view textile recycling. This follow-up explores how we can improve participation by incentivising collections and reducing the estimated £140 million worth of clothing sent to landfill each year.
It is estimated that 5% of household municipal waste is textiles, costing local authorities between £50 million and £70 million annually to manage. With such a large volume of textiles entering the waste stream, improving collection systems is essential.
A postcode lottery for recycling
A logical solution might be offering textile recycling at the kerbside. While this already exists in some areas, it is far from universal. Only around 30% of local authorities currently provide kerbside textile collections, making access something of a postcode lottery.
Out in the cold
Kerbside collections are not without challenges. Textiles left outside are often exposed to rain and dirt, reducing their suitability for reuse. Collection operators report lower-quality material and reduced resale value as a result.
Combined with low market prices and a focus on export markets, some collectors have moved away from kerbside services altogether in favour of higher-quality collection methods.
Incentivising better collection systems
An alternative approach is in-store takeback schemes. These are becoming increasingly popular as retailers look to engage customers and support circular economy goals.
Survey data shows that 89% of people say incentives influence their decision on what to do with unwanted clothing.
Charity vs personal reward
Charitable donation remains a key motivator for many consumers, with over a third preferring their clothing to support good causes.
However, a quarter of respondents prefer vouchers or discounts, and 1 in 5 are motivated by loyalty points. This highlights a clear split between altruistic and reward-driven behaviour.
Retail schemes reflect this divide. For example, some brands donate proceeds to charities such as UNICEF, while others offer customer discounts or store credit in return for used clothing.
The rise of postal and online solutions
Shopping habits have also shifted significantly, with online sales accounting for an increasing share of clothing purchases. This opens the door for postal-based donation systems.
Around 10% of survey respondents said this would be their preferred method of donating clothing, highlighting growing demand for convenient at-home options.
Closing the loop
New services are emerging to support this shift. Valpak, in partnership with ReBOUND, has developed a postal donation system via recycle-more.com, working with charities such as The Salvation Army to ensure donated clothing is reused wherever possible.
These innovations show how combining convenience, incentives, and accessibility can help reduce textile waste and improve recycling rates across the UK.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author, James Beard, and do not necessarily reflect the views of recycle-more, Valpak Limited, or any other organisation.