New old dress containers in Calau: This is how recycling becomes a success!

New old dress containers in Calau: This is how recycling becomes a success!

On July 1, 2025, the time had come: In Calau and the surrounding districts, the municipal waste disposal association "Niederlausitz" (KAEV) set up five new old clothes containers. This is done as part of the new EU directive, which prescribes a separate collection of old textiles in Germany from January 1, 2025. A step that is supposed to promote the reuse and recycling of old textiles.

The new containers can be found at the following locations:

• Calau: Gutsstraße
• Calau: ring road, height house no. 17
• OT Buckow: Buckower Dorfstraße
• gt Settinchen: Gosdaer Straße
• ot Werchow: Am Riesno

separation of the textiles for the environment

The EU directive aims to not only reduce over one million tons of old textiles in Germany annually, but also to increase reuse. Currently, only around 22 % of the old textiles collected in Europe end up in a recycling process. This new regulation could make a noticeable difference, because every year over 1 million tons of old textiles are disposed of in containers, with only about 50% still usable. Only 10% of these usable textiles benefit the needy people.

Before you throw your old clothes into the container, you should note that only high -quality and clean textiles belong in. Substantial or severely torn clothing should land in the residual waste. The KAEV also recommends not making textiles or waste next to the containers, otherwise they are considered a residual waste and must be disposed of for a fee.

consumer tips for old textile disposal

Instead of a landfill for deposited old textiles, it is advisable to wear fabrics for a long time and to consider the quality when purchasing. Use meaningful alternatives such as swapping or borrowing clothing. If wear and tear, the thought of repair and change should not be forgotten. In order to maintain sustainability, it is advisable to pay attention to environmental and social standards for newcomers.

The new regulations are not only a profit for the environment, but also bring challenges. According to Uwe Feige from the Association of Local Companies (VKU), many companies have already collected old textiles. Nevertheless, the sorting remains an expensive and personnel -intensive affair, which is also made more difficult by the multitude of materials in modern textiles. At the moment, many of the collected pieces end up on landfills after processing, since less than 1 % of the old textiles can be recycled into new products.

The need to change is clear. Frank Fischer from the Wiesbaden disposal companies appeals to the citizens to use the new containers and to dispose of old textiles properly. This is crucial for the future design of our consumption and the reduction of waste.

For questions about disposal, interested parties can contact the Kaev's waste advice, by phone at 03546 2704 20 or 03546 2704 38.