Scope shakes up textile collections from shops

The disability charity Scope has awarded contracts to three textiles recyclers for the collection of clothing from its network of shops.

The contract awards come as Scope shakes up its contract structures. In its last annual report, the Londonbased charity described how it is looking to find savings and is reviewing its central suppliers contracts.

The charity is now looking to enhance the service it receives for the collection of textiles from its charity shops, and has contracted Huddersfield-based textile recycling company Colltex, Kent-based LW Sait & Sons and Mansfield-based Savanna Rags International to service its shops in the north, south and middle of England respectively.

Kent-based Retrograde used to operate the shop collection contract for Scope.It is understood that the size of the operation has grown considerably over the last few years, which is why it is now being handled by three regional firms.

The contracted companies commenced work with Scope in August and September 2012. Savanna is undertaking collections from 68 shops in the middle of England, LW Sait will handle 120 shops in the south and Colltex the ones in the north. The majority of textiles collected under the contracts will be exported.

Commenting onhis company’scontract, Martin Kinsella, head of finance at Savanna Rags International, said: We have worked with Scope in the past and we hope this current arrangement benefits both the charity and our company. It has already created employment and investment opportunities in Mansfield where our factory is based. Scope take a very professional approach to recycling issues overall.

In return for providing a sustainable service our reward is the continued intake of material to our factory. This then maintains full employment with obvious contributions to the local community.

Helena Sait, from LW Sait & Sons,told letsrecycle.comthat the firm was awarded the contract for 120 Scope shops in mid-August. She explained that once collected, the textiles that are sorted in the UK and are then exported to Africa.

A spokesman from Colltex confirmed that it had the contract with Scope but said he was unable to comment further.

Textiles

In 2011/12, Scope raised 22 million in income from its shops alone. Textile recycling is an important stream of income for the charity, and while no value for the shop collection contracts has been given, its textile banks in London alonegenerate an income of morethan1.5 million.

Katie Adams, media officer for the charity, said that Scope was unable to disclose any information about the contracts.

Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the charity, explained the importance of textiles to Scopes operations. He said: We understand that all councils have to make tough spending decisions following cuts to their budgets. But plans to sell the clothing bank sites off to private companies will cost charities like Scope millions in donations.

In London alone, Scopes 163 banks represent more than 1.5 million worth of support for the charitys work with disabled people.