Facts on Clothes Recycling
Clothing and textile waste is a growing problem in the UK, but it's also one of the most fixable — every bag donated instead of binned makes a real difference. Here are some of the most important facts and figures on clothing waste and recycling in the UK, and why donating through a service like Bag2Charity helps tackle the problem directly.
Every year in the UK, around 336,000 tonnes of clothing are sent to landfill — equivalent to the weight of over 1,000 Boeing 747 aeroplanes. [Source: WRAP]
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Textile recycling reduces waste and conserves resources such as water, energy, and raw materials.
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In 2021, 711,000 tonnes of used textiles were discarded through household bins and recycling centres in the UK — nearly half of all used textiles that year. [Source: WRAP Textiles Market Situation Report 2024]
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The UK consumed 1.42 million tonnes of new textile products in 2022, while generating 1.45 million tonnes of used textiles in the same year. [Source: WRAP Textiles Market Situation Report 2024]
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The average lifespan of a piece of clothing in the UK is just over 2 years. [Source: WRAP "Love Your Clothes"]
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Extending the life of a garment by just 9 months can reduce its carbon, water, and waste footprint by 20–30% each. [Source: WRAP "Love Your Clothes"]
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The value paid to charities and collectors for donated textiles has fallen sharply over the past decade — from £432 per tonne in 2013 to £255 per tonne in 2023 for charity shop donations. [Source: WRAP Textiles Market Situation Report 2024]
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Donating clothes for reuse — rather than binning them — keeps them in circulation longer and directly supports charitable causes at the same time.
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