Reporters investigate the current status of waste textile recycling: consumers are enthusiastic about participation but recycling channels are not smooth

News from China Central Broadcasting Network, Beijing, April 13 (Reporter Lu Hongqiao) According to the China Central Radio and Television Station’s economic voice “World Finance”, the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments have recently issued opinions. It is proposed that by 2025, the recycling rate of waste textiles will reach 25%. In its investigation, Economic Voice found that due to shortcomings in recycling facilities, recycling models, recycling standards, etc., ordinary consumers rarely come into contact with the recycling of waste textiles.

Statistics show that my country consumes up to 35 million tons of textile fibers every year, and produces 20 million tons of waste textiles every year. Every household probably has some used clothes, used sheets and bedding, etc. How are these things generally disposed of? The reporter’s investigation found that many people choose to donate or give away, and throw away the rest. A consumer told reporters: “I just throw them away or donate them. Most people donate better clothes and throw away dirty clothes.”

In the interviews, few people had access to recycling channels to recycle old clothes and other waste textiles. Many people even mix these things directly with household garbage and throw them away. Zhao Kai, executive vice president of the China Circular Economy Association, said that this phenomenon occurs mainly because the waste textile recycling system is not perfect. “For example, the coverage area of recycling facilities is not very balanced. Although there are some recycling bins placed by recycling companies in residential areas, they are mainly concentrated in first- and second-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. There are very few recycling bins in third- and fourth-tier cities, and almost only in rural areas. No.”

Generally speaking, the recycling of waste products mainly includes cascade utilization and recycling. For waste textiles, secondary utilization mainly refers to the sale of second-hand goods, but our country’s laws have not yet liberalized this. In terms of recycling, textile fibers are mainly recycled into other products. Either way, consumers are willing to participate. Some consumers said: “If I or the people around me can change money, I will definitely be willing to change it. Even if it is one or two yuan, I will definitely be willing to change it. If someone is collecting it, I will definitely give it to him.”

Zhao Kai said that the main difficulty lies in opening up the business model for recycling waste textiles. At present, many companies have entered this field. The general operating model is for recyclers to build textile recycling facilities, find waste textile collection points through franchise cooperation, and the collection points earn the price difference.

A recycler said: “You can set the price when collecting clothes. It’s 3-5 cents per kilogram or 7-8 cents per kilogram. Or you can decide it yourself according to the market conditions there. . You collect it all at one price, and then you sort and sort it yourself, and pay us another price.”

So, what exactly do these recyclers do with the waste textiles after they collect them? The company said that part of it will be sold abroad, and the other part will be shredded and resources reused. “Crushing means that all categories such as dirty, torn and rotten sweaters are crushed and can be processed into carpets and insulation cotton. If resources are reused, like down jackets, the down inside will be taken out for cleaning, disinfection and drying. .”

At present, this model has become relatively mature, and some recyclers have established long-term cooperative relationships with recycled product companies. However, Zhao Kai pointed out that the current biggest shortcoming is that these companies are relatively scattered, making it difficult to ensure sorting efficiency, fiber separation and color removal are also relatively difficult, and quality is also uneven. . He believes that in the final analysis, it is necessary to promote the construction of relevant standard systems.

Zhao Kai said: “The country also has national standards and industry standards, but they are relatively fragmented and have not formed an overall waste textile standard system. In addition, after the standard system, there are some certification systems that have not kept up, so from There is still a lack of standards and regulations for the testing, sorting, recycling and recycled products of recycled content.”

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