If you’re one of those people who love shopping for new clothes even if it’s not Chinese New Year, chances are your closet is bursting with togs you never wear anymore.
However, it may be too sayang to throw them away, especially if they’re still wearable.
The answer to that conundrum could be these textile recycling bins that are conveniently located across 60 locations in Singapore.
Source: Cloop on Facebook
You can drop off unwanted items in any condition, so they don’t even have to be wearable.
The textile recycling bins were installed by Cloop, a Singaporean start-up that collects reusable clothes to be resold.
According to their website, their mission is to “reduce fashion overconsumption and waste by keeping apparel circulated within the community”.
They work in collaboration with Life Line Clothing, a Malaysian zero-waste textiles collector that aims to reduce fabric waste pollution and divert textiles away from landfill.
Using the recycling bins is simple — just drop your items into the large slot in front.
Source: Louis Ng Kok Kwang on Facebook
Besides clothes, items like bags, shoes, accessories, belts, caps and household items like soft toys, pillows, towels and linens are accepted.
They can be in any dry condition.
Items in packages are also okay, as long as they’re within 50 to 55cm in height and 40 to 50cm wide, and a maximum of 7kg.
Source: Cloop/Google Docs
Packages should be put inside and not left outside.
If members of the public notice that the bins are full or packages are left outside, they should call 3159 5141 for assistance.
In a Facebook video, Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Eric Chua explained what happens to the items after they’re dropped into the recycling bins.
Fabrics are brought to a factory run by Life Line Clothing.
There, they’re sorted out into 550 categories including shirts, trousers, bedsheets and handbags.
Source: Eric Chua on Facebook
After that, they’re sorted according to their condition and undergo metal detection.
While those in good condition can be sold and exported as second-hand clothes, those that have metals or are damaged can’t be reused.
However, their fibres can still be stripped and turned into things like rugs, gloves and industrial cleaning cloths.
Shoes can also be used for playground surfaces.
For convenience, the textile recycling bins can be found at 60 locations across Singapore — seven of which are in Mr Chua’s Tanjong Pagar GRC.
While four of them are in private places like condos and offices, most of them are in publicly accessible areas like housing estate void decks, schools, carparks and malls.
Source: Melvin Yong on Facebook
They may also be located next to recycling bins for other products like paper.
Source: Louis Ng Kok Kwang on Facebook
To find the location of the bin nearest to you, check out this map or this Google Docs list.
The list can also be seen on the National Environment Agency (NEA) website under the ‘clothing’ category.
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Featured image adapted from Cloop on Facebook and Louis Ng Kok Kwang on Facebook.
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