You can recycle unwanted clothes, shoes and textiles at recycling banks across Wirral. These banks are managed by Roberts Recycling, who collect, sort and reuse textiles.
Recycling textiles helps reduce waste. In Wirral, about 5% of the waste in green bins is clothing or other textiles. When you recycle these items instead, they can be used again or turned into new products.
What you can recycle
Wearable items in good condition can taken to one of our local recycling banks. They can also be donated to charity shops or resold through online platforms. Some shops and online retailers offer take-back schemes with rewards for recycling.
You can place the following items in any textile recycling bank:
- clean clothing
- paired footwear
- bed sheets and duvet covers
- pillowcases
- towels
- household textiles
Please ensure all items are clean, dry and suitable for reuse.
Damaged, wet or soiled textiles should be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre for recycling.
What happens to your textiles
All textiles go to a sorting centre where items are checked and prioritised for recycling. Items that can be used again are shared through trusted networks to support communities around the world.
Materials that cannot be used again are sent for recycling. The fibres are turned into new products like industrial wiping cloths.
Roberts Recycling is Wirral Council’s textile recycling partner. They follow a strict zero‑to‑landfill policy. They are working on new ways to reuse items that cannot be worn again. This includes turning old textiles into MDF‑style boards.
This video shows some of the ways that recycled textiles have been used