New campaign urges residents to stop binning clothes and start giving them a second life

A fresh push from Salford City Council calls on people to repair, donate, sell or recycle unwanted clothing, as Greater Manchester bins over 16,000 tonnes of textiles in a year

Salford residents are being urged to rethink how they dispose of old clothing, as a new campaign highlights the environmental cost of sending wearable textiles to landfill.

The 'Greener Salford' campaign, launched by Salford City Council, is designed to tackle the growing issue of textile waste across Greater Manchester. In the 2023/24 financial year alone, more than 16,700 tonnes of clothing and textiles ended up in general waste bins across the region.

The council says this contributes not only to increasing landfill use and greenhouse gas emissions but also fuels demand for fast fashion and the carbon-intensive production of new materials.

Instead, the campaign promotes four practical alternatives:

• Repair: Make simple fixes to clothing, such as mending zips, reattaching buttons or stitching torn seams

• Donate: Give wearable items to charity shops or use doorstep donation bags

• Sell: Earn some extra money by listing good quality clothes on platforms like Vinted, eBay or Facebook Marketplace

• Recycle: Drop off damaged clothing at designated textile banks at recycling centres or supermarket car parks, where items can be transformed into carpet underlay, animal bedding or car seat stuffing

Councillor Barbara Bentham, Salford City Council’s Lead Member for Neighbourhoods, Environment and Community Safety, said: “We’re all aware of sites like Vinted, eBay and Facebook Marketplace, they’re a great way to get a few extra pounds in your pocket, while helping to save the environment.

“Fewer people know about the textile banks for recycling clothes that can’t be fixed or worn again. I’m really pleased to see this campaign raising awareness of the alternatives. By repairing, donating, selling or recycling, we can all play our part in reducing waste and protecting the environment for generations to come.”

Residents can find their nearest textile recycling bank using the map on the Recycle Now website. More advice is also available through the Greener Salford website, including tips for mending clothing and where to find local repair groups or charity shops.

The campaign aligns with wider efforts across Greater Manchester to reduce household waste and promote a circular economy.