Recycling worn clothing and household textiles in the UK

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Separate donation from recycling

Clean wearable clothing can be reused, while worn textiles need a scheme accepting that condition. Do not present dirty or damp items as ordinary charity donations. Read the recipient's rules first.

BHF lists accepted categories ↗. Find local textile points through Recycle Now ↗. A clothing bank may not accept duvets, pillows, carpets or every fabric offcut.

Sort carefully

Separate repairable, reusable and recycling items. Empty pockets and remove documents or valuables. Pack suitable clothing clean and dry and pair shoes where requested.

Oil, paint or mould contamination changes disposal needs. Keep these items away from wearable donations. For ordinary torn T-shirts, ask whether the point accepts worn textiles rather than only reusable clothing.

Confirm accepted materials

Check socks, underwear, household fabrics and shoes individually. Schemes have different restrictions. Do not assume every collected textile becomes new clothing; outcomes depend on material and operator.

For retailer take-back programmes, check brands, quantity limits and voucher conditions. A discount does not make another purchase necessary. Passing a good coat to an identified recipient may be more useful than using an unspecified collection bank.

Avoid creating more waste

Use the required packaging and do not leave bags beside overflowing banks. Rain can quickly ruin fabric and turn it into waste. Choose another point or return later.

Start large clear-outs early. Resale takes messaging and dispatch time, donation needs acceptance, and recycling needs a suitable point. Avoid assuming one free collection covers everything. Clear sorting gives reusable items a better chance of staying useful.