Ealing Council has joined forces with the charity retailer Traid to make it easier for residents in the borough to recycle unwanted clothes and help reduce textile waste across the borough.
Eight new clothing donation banks have been installed complementing existing sites and ensuring coverage across Ealing’s seven towns. There is also a donation bank at the Greenford Road Reuse and Recycling Centre, while households with a dry mixed recycling bin can leave clothing in a clear bag for kerbside collection. Residents can also book a free home collection via Traid’s website.
The council says the new banks are for good-quality clothing only. Leaving items outside them is considered fly-tipping, which is illegal and could result in enforcement action.
An Ealing Council spokesperson told EALING.NEWS: “Traid was selected as our partner due to their strong track record in textile collection and their commitment to sustainability. The charity plays a key role in reducing waste and protecting the environment by collecting unwanted clothing for reuse and recycling.
“They also support global projects aimed at improving working conditions in the fashion industry. Importantly, Traid pays all its staff the London Living Wage and, being locally based, they are well placed to service donation banks efficiently and respond quickly to any issues at the sites.
“The placement of banks will be regularly reviewed and the services monitored. We foresee this arrangement to be in place for as long as it is serving the needs of our residents.”
Council leader Peter Mason said the partnership would help “create a fairer, greener borough”, while Councillor Paul Driscoll urged residents to “keep our textiles in use longer” and avoid fly-tipping.
