Fight against cheap clothing: used clothing market in Altötting on the brink!

Fight against cheap clothing: used clothing market in Altötting on the brink!

The second-hand market in Germany, especially in the Altötting district, is currently facing a difficult situation. This is characterized by a flood of demand for old clothes, which is increasingly being replaced by cheap, worn-out clothing. According to the Innsalzach24 The Burghausen-Alötting Child Protection Association reports a “tense situation” and overfull containers. Marie Röben, the head of the Child Protection Association, describes the situation, which has steadily worsened over the past year. More and more worn-out clothing ends up in containers and second-hand stores.

The traditional old clothing collection of the Association of German Catholic Youth (BDKJ) even had to be canceled this year, which further underlines the explosive situation. The volunteers of the Child Protection Association have reached the limit of their capacity: around 60 bags of old clothes have to be removed every week. This inevitably leads to an overload of already overwhelmed waste disposal companies, some of which have already had to give up.

Causes and challenges

One of the main reasons for this development is the extremely cheaply produced new material made of synthetic fibers, which wears out quickly and thus leads to an oversupply of old clothes. Business with low-cost providers such as Temu and Shein also contributes significantly to the problem. Instead of reintroducing these textiles into the cycle, they often end up being disposed of as painter's fleece, which is not only impractical for the organizations but also for the environment.

Since January 1, 2025, there has been a new EU law that prohibits the disposal of used textiles in the residual waste bin. However, many citizens are unsure and don't know what to do with their old clothes. “Clean, wearable clothing belongs in the containers, broken and soiled textiles in the residual waste bin,” explains Röben and at the same time calls for a fundamental reform of the system. She advocates for textile manufacturers to participate financially in the disposal of used textiles.

Where second-hand dealers can score points

Despite these challenges, there are also bright spots in the second-hand industry, which is very popular in many cities. With their second-hand shops, countries like the USA show how things can be done differently. In Minneapolis, for example, establishments like Saint Vincent de Paul and Goodwill popular. These shops offer a wide range of clothing, furniture and accessories, often organized and sold by volunteers. Such role models could also be inspiring for Germany.

The concept of buying second-hand, which brings with it the advantage of sustainable action, cannot be overestimated in this tense situation. It opens up numerous opportunities for buyers to get a good deal while doing something for the environment. Ultimately, experience shows that second-hand clothing is not only easy on the wallet and the environment, but is often also of good quality.

The current situation in the second-hand market calls for a reassessment of incentives and structures in order to prevent the industry from collapsing further. The community is asked to find new ways to effectively organize the textile cycle and reduce the pressure on second-hand retailers.