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Disposing of old clothes: New council for Prignitz citizens!
In the Prignitz district, citizens have been able to dispose of old clothes at designated collection points since 2023 in order to promote recycling.
Disposing of old clothes: New council for Prignitz citizens!
In the Prignitz district, citizens are faced with the challenge of disposing of their old clothes correctly. Since the beginning of 2023, public waste disposal companies have been obliged to collect and recycle old clothing. However, this causes a bit of confusion, especially when disposing of damaged or heavily soiled clothing. Adrean Beckmann, Head of Economics and Infrastructure, made it clear that these textiles belong in the residual waste, which does not completely eliminate the uncertainty among citizens.
According to information from Northern Courier Six depot containers were set up in Perleberg, Pritzwalk and Wittenberge where citizens can hand in their clothing free of charge. Those responsible would like to continue to make this possible. However, the tax should only be paid for dry, clean and usable textiles. To keep the containers clean, it is recommended that they be delivered in sealed plastic bags. Social institutions, such as food banks and social boutiques run by the German Red Cross, are also available for items of clothing in good condition.
New regulations for old clothes
From 2025, an EU-wide directive will take effect that will change the obligations for the disposal of used clothing. These new regulations state that textiles must be disposed of in used clothing containers, even if they are broken or dirty. However, there are some concerns: Non-profit organizations warn that only usable clothing should go into the containers, as heavily soiled clothing makes their work even more difficult. The Hamburg Consumer Center recommends disposing of such textiles as residual waste, as recycling textiles is costly and time-consuming.
Why is this so important? The textile industry is one of the largest polluters in the world and is responsible for 20% of global water pollution. In Europe, 87% of old clothes end up in the trash and are burned, which in turn causes CO₂ emissions. A violent cycle that the EU wants to curb with these new guidelines. The aim is to reduce the amount of waste and increase recycling rates, although currently less than half of all used clothing in the EU is actually collected for reuse or recycling.
Outlook and measures
To meet this challenge, EU member states have presented binding targets for reducing food and textile waste by 2030. Textile manufacturers will in future have to bear the costs of collecting, sorting and recycling their products. European Parliament states that the new extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems must be implemented within 30 months. This regulation also applies to online shops and is intended to strengthen the responsibility of manufacturers for the entire life cycle of their products.
The coming period will show how the situation regarding the disposal of old clothing will develop. The communities in the Prignitz district are working to examine further disposal options in order to offer citizens an uncomplicated and environmentally friendly solution. At the same time, it is hoped that people will develop an understanding of the new regulations and act accordingly.