The Textile Services Association (TSA) is calling for the hospitality, catering and healthcare industries to work with them in order to improve the recycling of textiles.
Every year, over 30 million textile items, including sheets, duvet covers, pillow cases and towels, are thrown away. The majority end up in landfill or incinerators.
Meanwhile, cloth that does get reused, as rags in sites such as garages, is then disposed of. Textile waste from the hospitality industry is ideal for recycling.
The TSA has set up a project to research potential recycling solutions for the industry with Swedish company Södra.
It is also in talks with UK Hospitality about the possibility of including staff uniforms in the scheme.
“We want to be part of the solution,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “So far our members have been very enthusiastic about the potential for them to help industries reducing waste and improving sustainability.”
For more information about the TSA recycling scheme, email tsa@tsa-uk.org