What happens to Singapore’s unwanted clothes?
What happens to Singapore’s unwanted clothes?
Singapore’s textile recycling programme now collects around 60 tonnes of unwanted clothes a week – double the amount two years ago.
The clothes are sent to Port Klang, Malaysia, where about 300 workers sort them by condition, fabric, quality and style. About half can be resold.
They are compressed into bales and shipped to overseas buyers in Kenya, Uganda and Papua New Guinea.
Others get a new purpose: 15 to 20 per cent become industrial wiping cloths, while around 20 per cent are turned into products such as rugs. 2 per cent is recycled into new textiles.
Some fast-fashion items are harder to resell because new clothes can be cheaper. Heavy curtains, blankets and contaminated garments are also difficult to find buyers for.
