Old clothing chaos: EU directive causes collection in Fürstenfeldbruck to collapse!

Old clothing chaos: EU directive causes collection in Fürstenfeldbruck to collapse!

On January 1, 2025, a new EU directive came into force that revolutionized the disposal of used clothing. This regulation stipulates that used textiles, including not only old clothing but also bed linen and curtains, must be collected separately from other waste. The EU is pursuing the goal of drastically reducing the amount of textiles burned or landfilled and promoting reuse and recycling. Mercury reports that the market for used clothing is therefore under great pressure and the first sorting companies are having to file for bankruptcy due to declining quality and increased costs.

In Germany, more than a million tons of old textiles end up in containers every year, but only about half of them are still usable. On top of that, only 10% of the usable textiles go to people in need, while the rest is often remarketed to other markets outside the EU. The proportion of recycled textiles in the EU is still in the basement, at just 22%. ZDF highlights that the existing situation is complicated by the so-called fast fashion trend, which not only leads to low-quality clothing, but also increases the problems of textile collection.

Declining quality of collected goods

Another problem brought to light by the EU directives is the increased dumping of unusable textiles in used clothing containers, which degrades the quality of the materials collected. Collectors in the Fürstenfeldbruck area are withdrawing, which means that the district is legally obliged to offer the containers without being able to understand the financial impact. Here The desolate market environment is addressed, which is increasingly causing headaches for those responsible.

The waste management of the Fürstenfeldbruck district generated income of around 29,000 euros from the sale of used clothing in 2024, but is already faced with costs of around 32,000 euros for collection in 2025. District Administrator Thomas Karmasin is therefore making an educational appeal and encouraging citizens to only put old textiles in the containers that are in wearable condition. The focus should be on recycling to ensure the quality required by regulations.

The role of consumers

How daily news reports, the responsibility for implementing the new regulation lies primarily with public waste disposal companies, but consumers also have to do their part. From 2025, old textiles may no longer be disposed of with residual waste or burned. Instead, they are obliged to bring them into the designated containers. Tips and increased education are therefore urgently needed to reduce misunderstandings about the new regulations.

In summary, the new EU directive brings both challenges and opportunities for used clothing markets. In order to counteract the impending problem, not only the waste disposal companies are called upon, but also the citizens - because only together can a more sustainable disposal of used textiles be achieved.