DRK removes used clothing containers: What does that mean for Bad Hersfeld?

DRK removes used clothing containers: What does that mean for Bad Hersfeld?

The Rotenburg team of the German Red Cross (DRK) makes current decisions that affect the collection of used clothing in the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district. As HNA reports, the collection of old clothes in containers will be discontinued. Managing director Frank Leyendecker commented on this and referred to the “multifaceted and worrying” reasons for this measure.

The used clothing containers have had to contend with increasing problems in recent years. In particular, the new EU directive on the separate collection of textile waste caused irritation. This regulation does not differentiate between wearable and damaged clothing, which has left many consumers confused. The Hamburg consumer advice center even recommends throwing heavily soiled or broken textiles into the trash, which makes the situation even more complicated.

Development and problems of old clothing collection

There are fewer and fewer incentives for handing over old clothes. According to HNA, the current remuneration for used clothes is between 0 and 10 cents per kilogram, whereas previously it was 30 cents. Visitors to the containers often have to deal with the problem of incorrect filling: waste such as household waste and leftover food is often dumped in and around the containers. This circumstance led to the DRK deciding to say goodbye to the collection containers. There are currently almost 50 containers at around 30 locations in the region, but these will be dismantled if there is high pressure to act.

Locations like Friedewald are particularly affected, while the contract with the sorting company expires at the end of the year. This raises questions about the future of the DRK clothing store in Rotenburg, which is still unclear at this point. The executive board has made the decision that collecting used clothing in container form is no longer viable. Critical voices, such as those of the managing director of the waste management association Hersfeld-Rotenburg (AZV), view this withdrawal with skepticism.

Recycling and sustainability in the textile sector

The situation on the used clothing market is tense. The real challenge lies in the increasing amount of used textiles and the often poor quality of the clothing sold. Fast fashion leads to enormous volumes, with Europeans buying almost 26 kg of textiles every year and disposing of around 11 kg of them directly. Recycling textile fibers is complex and expensive; Only around 1% of new clothing comes from old clothes. In Germany, on average, each person buys 60 items of clothing every year, which further increases the pressure on disposal options.

The new EU directive aims to reduce the amount of waste and promote the recycling of textiles. However, there is often no differentiation between wearable and damaged clothing, which creates challenges for nonprofit organizations and consumers. The used clothing market is struggling with a deep crisis status, which means the situation remains tense for everyone involved in the region.