The Textile Recycling Association (TRA) is urging the UK government to intervene and regulate the industry to stave off a potential collapse. One of the key recommendations of the association includes the implementation of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme by the association.
Representing over 75 per cent of the textile recycling industry, the TRA has expressed concerns over its collection of textile waste from various outlets like charity shops, recycling centers, and community textile banks. The association is particularly concerned about the capacity exhaustion by processing plants, which has raised fears of operational limitations.
Warning of dire environmental consequences on faltering of textile collection operations, TRA cites the potential for microplastic and water pollution that has led to generation of 92 million tons of textile waste annually.
Recent policy shifts in European countries like France, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Austria have further compounded these challenges leading to European countries like France, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Austria, proposing bans on the export of used textiles within the EU.
Emphasising on the urgency of the situation, Dawn Dungate, President, Textile Association, calls for swift government action to implement necessary reforms.
She highlights the industry's pivotal role in waste management, supporting charity, retail, and local authorities, particularly amid the rise of fast fashion.
The crisis in the Red Sea emerges also contributes to the sector's woes, leading to longer shipping routes and skyrocketing costs. Combined with escalating taxation from African and Asian markets and mounting pressure to curtail waste exports, this places immense financial strain on the industry.
Moreover, the proliferation of low-quality textiles from fast fashion exacerbates operational challenges, driving up costs and pushing many textile merchants perilously close to financial collapse.
