Recycling scrap clothes/material?

[BluePheasant]

What is the best way to dispose of scraps of fabric (from making cushions & curtains) and worn out clothes that are much too far gone for charity shops?

Recycling centres only ever seem to want usable garments. Is there a way of recycling scrap material and clothes? Have a bin bag full and it seems wrong to just throw it in landfill.

We have a charity recycling bin in the park which takes rags.

Check your local school or shops or car park. Many have cloth banks that are cloth rather than clothing!

Or ask your local charity shop if they want it for the rag man - they get paid by weight.

Or facebook it. Crafters like me might be very happy to take scraps off your hands.

I think the very best thing to do is to reuse yourself within your own home - I cut up old far-gone clothes and towels etc into squares and hem to use as face cloths, dishcloths, dusters, face coverings, 'messy job wipes' etc as appropriate depending on fabric, I'm not particularly handy and would never dream of making my own cushions so I'm sure you'll be able to do a better job than me of hemming up and making neat! If you have DC you can also give them scraps to do crafts e.g. collage, practice cross stich or hemming, even make dolls clothes with...

If none of the above apply, then some charity shops or recycling centres will take bags of clean 'rags' for recycling (you may need to go in and ask) but as you say it's quite hard to find because fabric recycling isn't that easy as a process and there isn't that much demand for recycled fabric (esp polysester/jersey type fabrics). All natural fabrics e.g. wool, 100% cotton may also be compostable...

It might not apply right now, but my local barnardos charity shop would take it as they used to sell it to the rag man.

Most charity shops can weigh these in for rag money. Please mark the bags rags only so they do not have to sort them.

Cotton cushion/curtain fabric might be good for wax wraps if it isnt too thick.

rags become shoddy (shredded for things like stuffing car upholstery). It is a good way to reuse.
Only part worn out fabric may be possible to reuse to make things. I was looking for fabric to make some seat covers myself but didn't have any so have bought some covers 2 days ago.

I use them for yucky cleaning jobs around house.
Garage I walk by takes bags of rags for the mechanics.
Animal shelters might like rags for similar purposes.

My local BHF takes rags, as long as they're clean and clearly labelled.

I've taken it to a charity shop, bagged up and labelled "rags" before. I did check first.

We also have kerbside rag recycling and big recycling bins at centres which I use of it's only a small amount.

Our bin men take them now, if labelled "textiles for recycling" - I even put worn out socks etc in there! Wonder whether this may catch on in other areas?

Thank you for replies

Hadn't thought of FB for the fabric scraps so I'll put a bundle together and if anyone wants it for free.

Yes definitely agree old clothes make good cleaning cloths. I've used DS old vests and tops for that. Great for doing window and induction hob as gets the smears off the glass. Still have lots of worn out trousers, socks etc so it sounds like finding a charity who will take a bag of rag.

Great that some council's take it, shame more don't, a huge amount of clothes adds to landfill.

Local tip should have a rag bank. Also charity shops get rags collected by weight so ask them if they want them.

H and M used to accept old clothes in any condition in exchange for a £5 voucher. Assume they will still be doing it when they reopen.