Used clothing containers disappeared: Where are the region's clothes?

Used clothing containers disappeared: Where are the region's clothes?

What happens to all the old clothes we hoard in the closet? With the ever-increasing need for space, many of us are faced with the decision: throw it away or pass it on? More and more people are going through their clothes to make room for something new. But the possibility of handing in clothes via used clothing containers is becoming increasingly difficult. Again Uckermark courier Reportedly, these have almost completely disappeared, especially in Sternberg and the surrounding area. Two containers were recently removed from the Edeka and Aldi parking lots. The last remaining container, hidden behind the main building of the Sternberger Wohnungsbaugesellschaft (Stewo), belongs to the Humana company.

But where do the donated textiles actually end up? Humana sorts the donated clothing at a facility in Hoppegarten near Berlin. Although much of the clothing collected is in good condition, it is often thrown away because the containers are overflowing with trash and littered clothing. The situation is not happy at the DRK either, because they no longer set up containers for used clothing. The reason? Littering and the additional costs associated with it. Concerns about valuable, well-preserved clothing being rendered unusable are more than justified.

EU directives and the need for recycling

Another aspect affecting the situation is the planned introduction of an obligation for the separate collection of waste materials, which will come into force on January 1, 2025. This new regulation is part of the EU Waste Framework Directive, which is intended to promote the recycling of used textiles, but also causes some confusion. According to information from ZDF today In Germany, over a million tons of old textiles end up in containers every year, with only around 50 percent of the clothing collected still being usable. Around ten percent of this clothing goes to people in need, while the rest is often marketed outside the EU.

The recycling rate for textiles within the EU is currently just 22 percent. Mixed fibers in textiles and the lack of clear regulations for ecological design make recycling even more difficult. In contrast, the collection rate in Germany is between 50 and 65 percent and is therefore an acceptable value. In other EU countries such as Latvia or Spain, however, the situation is significantly worse, with rates of only 5 and 12 percent respectively.

Alternatives to clothing collection

So what to do with clothes that can no longer be worn? Well-preserved, wearable clothing, shoes, accessories and home textiles are allowed in the clothing collection. The challenge remains to properly dispose of broken or heavily soiled clothing: it belongs in the household waste bin. There are also alternatives for everyone who can't or doesn't want to use containers: recycling centers in Brüel and Kobrow as well as the DRK charity shop in Parchim offer options for getting rid of items that are no longer needed.

The German Red Cross is committed to ensuring that damaged and unwearable textiles do not end up pointlessly in the trash. Instead, there is a route to the collecting society, where they are processed into products such as floor mats, car seat covers or cleaning rags. In addition, five percent of the clothing collected is made available in central disaster relief camps. The proceeds from this also benefit youth work and other important social projects, such as DRK website is noted.

With the coming changes and the growing awareness of recycling and reuse, it is time to think about our consumption behavior. The old clothes in the closet can still be valuable in the future if the correct disposal and recycling is ensured.