Textile Recycler JMP Wilcox and waste management company SITA UK launched a “Spring clean” campaign, which rewarded textile collections in the region with charity donations.
” The boost to the recycling rate was far greater than we had hoped. It just goes to how keen people are to recycle their textiles. “
– Alan Arrowsmith, JMP Wilcox
For every tonne of textiles collected by SITA in April, Wilcox donated 20 to the Jessie May Trust, a children's hospice in Bristol.
Collections rose to over 50 tonnes as a result, a 50% increase from April of the year before. The scheme also raised 1,000 for the hospice.
The textile recycling push complemented the area's already high recycling record, which reached 32% in 2004/05.
SITA
SITA, which offers textile collection as part of its 25 year PFI contract with South Gloucestershire council, said it hadn't realised that so many textiles were thrown away in the area.
A spokesman said: “We weren't getting as many textiles as were in circulation. We conducted a survey and found that 3% of black bag rubbish contained textiles.”
Alan Arrowsmith, sales manager of JMP Wilcox, said: “We're delighted to have raised so much money in such a short time and the boost to the recycling rate was far greater than we had hoped.
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“It just goes to how keen people are to recycle their textiles when you provide a good collection system and a little motivation.”
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