New old clothing regulations in Trier: How to dispose of them correctly!

New old clothing regulations in Trier: How to dispose of them correctly!

What motivates citizens in the Trier-Saarburg region? Recently, it has become more and more complicated to properly dispose of old clothing. The reason for this is the fallen market prices for used textiles, which has caused many private and charitable collectors to withdraw. As a result, numerous used clothing containers are empty or are only emptied sporadically. Overall, the disposal of old textiles is becoming a challenge sol.de vividly reported.

One bright spot: From September 2025, regular collection of used clothes will be introduced. Citizens can then place old clothing, shoes and bed linen on the street twice a year in special official bags. The association will distribute old clothing bags to all households in the district, which will later be available free of charge at well-known distribution points. Only certain contents such as clothing, handbags and home textiles may be removed from the bags, while heavily soiled textiles must be disposed of with residual waste. These detailed regulations are intended to ensure that only usable clothing ends up in the recycling world.

New EU directives and their effects

In order to protect the environment, an EU-wide directive will apply from January 1, 2025, which states that old textiles may no longer be disposed of as residual waste or burned. Instead, they need to be recycled, an issue that is increasingly of concern to consumers. NDR reports confusion among users, which at the same time raises concerns among non-profit organizations that broken or heavily soiled textiles in particular are not ending up in the right containers.

To make it clear what belongs in the used clothing container, here are a few rules: The Hamburg consumer center recommends that heavily soiled or broken textiles should be disposed of with residual waste. This differentiation is important because only about one percent of new clothing actually comes from recycled textiles. This shows how complex and expensive the recycling of textile fibers is.

Future of old clothing disposal

What's in store for us in the next few months? The association has already announced that it will publish the collection dates for old clothes in August 2025. The A.R.T. app is also used to inform the population about all relevant information. Please note that a maximum of five bags are permitted per household. This offers a good opportunity to clear out cabinet fillings that have become extravagant and make room for something new.

Even if the regulations and challenges in the used clothing market are increasing, there are perspectives: Citizens are invited to donate clothing through social department stores and clothing stores. This means that non-profit organizations can continue to do their part to reduce waste. This makes it all the more important to choose your own clothing carefully and buy new items less often. After all, every German buys an average of 60 items of clothing every year - and there is definitely still room for improvement. daily news highlights that less than half of all used clothing in the EU is collected for reuse or recycling. More has to be done!