Starting October 1, Swedes can dispose of damaged clothing directly in the trash, addressing issues caused by the textile waste law. The government plans to investigate free returns of unsorted materials to producers and improve recycling processes to meet EU waste management goals.
New Law Allows Disposal of Damaged Clothes in Trash
New Law Allows Disposal of Damaged Clothes in Trash
Starting October 1, you can throw away damaged and holey clothes directly in the trash. The textile law that has been in effect since the beginning of the year has caused problems in the country's municipalities.
The intention behind the new law on separate collection of textile waste, which came into effect on January 1, was good. Everything was to be sorted and either donated or sold second-hand. In practice, however, the textile law has created problems in many municipalities.
Charitable organizations are overwhelmed with textiles that cannot be sold. At recycling facilities where municipalities send their textile waste, mountains of non-recyclable items, such as damaged clothes from low-cost chains, stained textiles, and holey socks, are piling up.
"Dirty and damaged clothes easily end up in the same bin, and several municipalities have now asked their residents to throw damaged, stained clothes directly in the trash," says Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L).
A Bag
To address the problem, the government will now investigate whether the unsorted material can be returned to the producer free of charge, says Pourmokhtari at the government's summer gathering.
A legislative change will also make it possible from October 1 to limit the textiles that need to be sorted and allow items like holey socks, stained textiles, and worn-out clothes to be thrown directly in the trash.
"Personally, I have so far collected such a bag in my closet. Household waste is then used to produce heat and energy, so it is put to use," says Romina Pourmokhtari.
More Sorting
The government has also tasked the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency with investigating how to recycle items other than packaging at recycling centers.
"We will investigate how, for example, a dish brush can be thrown directly into the recycling for plastic, so that it can then be sorted afterward."
In this way, Sweden will be better able to meet the EU's waste management goals. Today, Sweden misses that target by 15 percent, Pourmokhtari notes.