What can I do with clothes I no longer want?

It’s estimated that the average household in Leeds throws away around 12 kilos of clothing and textiles every year.

Much of this clothing could be reused, or recycled. Clothing and textiles disposed of in black bins can also cause problems at the RERF in Cross Green - where your black bin waste ends up - as they can get tangled in the machinery. It's also a real waste of natural resources - that could be put to better use.

Good quality clothing can be donated to charities across Leeds. Clothing and textiles that are not of good enough quality to be donated for someone else to wear (“rags”) can be disposed of in textile banks - please place them in a bag marked “Rags”. Some charity shops will also accept “rags” - but please check with them first.

We've created a map which shows all the charity shops and textile banks in Leeds - so you know where to go to donate (and buy second hand).

If you are interested in sustainable fashion, find out more on the dedicated Leeds Fashion Futures pages and join our Leeds Fashion Futures group on Facebook.