A new EU directive has been in force since January 1st, 2025, according to which old textiles may no longer be disposed of as residual waste. This applies to discarded clothing as well as bed linen, towels and curtains. Instead, the materials should be collected in used clothing containers, for example, so that they can be better recycled.
In theory, this also applies to broken parts that can no longer be worn, but can be processed so that they can be used as fiber. In practice, however, this is still difficult, says Philip Heldt from the NRW Consumer Center. Because there are not enough companies that carry out this processing. This means that broken textiles might end up being burned after sorting – like residual waste. Heldt expects that the necessary structures will be built in a few years.
The old clothing directive changes practically nothing for the time being
For the time being, nothing will change for consumers, writes the NRW Consumer Center online. Textiles that are in good condition belong in the collection containers and should be washed first. If severe contamination is the reason for disposal, you don’t have to clean the part – and it can be thrown into the residual waste, says Philip Heldt. Worn textiles can also still be put in the black bin.
According to Heldt, if a well-preserved part ends up in the residual waste, it is legally a mistake, but not too dramatic. Unlike plastic in organic waste, the textile does not contaminate the waste and therefore does not prevent intended recycling. You can find out whether the municipality charges a fine for this in the municipality’s waste or disposal regulations. However, the NRW Consumer Center is not aware of any planned controls, says Heldt. (dpa)