AIBU to think it should be easier to recycle duvets?

[ButteredJorts]

I am clearing out the house ready to move and I have 2 king size duvets that I definitely can't keep.

Ideally I'd avoid taking them to the tip, it seems such a waste, but no one will take the bloody things.
Not allowed in clothing banks, charity shops don't want them, and before anyone asks, I've contacted all the local animal/dog rescues as I can feasibly get to and either they never answer or don't want them.

They need gone really soon so it's not a case of keeping them around until there's a recycling solution, so I guess tip it is.

But I'm not BU to think there should be an eco friendly solution to this, am I?

Unless anyone has managed/ has ideas??

Stick them on Facebook marketplace?

Keep them and use them as loft insulation in your new place?

Have you got a FB recycle page near you that you could post on?

I guess it just doesn't work that way. Things can only be recycled if they can remain in good condition and easily be reused, or the materials can be repurposed. Things can't just be magically recycled to make us feel less guilty about throwing them out. I so often hear people saying that, why can't "they" (exactly who they are isn't specified) recycle random thing. The answer is not to buy so much stuff in the first place. If it's something you really needed like blankets, no need to feel guilty.

I've put them in fabric recycling before. Any textiles past the point or redemption are shredded and used as stuffing, I believe.

Have you a local collection for the Pakistan floods?

I agree completely. Fabric recycling won't take them. They actively have signs up saying no duvets or pillows. Animal places can't take them as they can't be washed and dried efficiently. I think they should all be chopped up and used as insulation, as a matter of course. Such a waste to put them in landfill bit that's what we end up doing.

Our local animal shelter takes old duvets, blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, etc. as long as they're not feather-stuffed. Might be worth a try? Otherwise, some fabric recycling banks (usually alongside bottle banks in supermarket car parks) take bedding.

I used to work in a charity shop and if anything like that came in they went into the 'rag bag'. The bags of unsellable fabric was picked up once a week by a company who got it shredded for underlay.
If anyone offered duvet covers, we said no but people send them anyway.

Animal charities take old blankets so they might take duvets too.

I suspect that local homeless charities would also accept duvets

Animal ones mostly will not, as I said. They need bedding that can easily be washed and dried.

If you have a Dunelm near you they offer recycling schemes for duvets and pillows. www.dunelm.com/info/about/take-back-scheme

Find a charity sending clothing to Ukraine.
We are sending clean duvets, covers and blankets to Ukraine.

My sister is an animal warden. She takes all my old bedding. Not sure what I'd do with a duvet actually? Tip?

Are they feather/down or synthetic? Alpkit stores take in old down products to send to the Re:Down project who clean and sort the down for reuse.

Can it actually be recycled though? If it can’t be used by someone else and the materials cannot be used to make another product it can’t be recycled. Even if they could be used by someone that needed a duvet they’re such a weight and bulk to transport it probably works out cheaper to buy new.

I wish I could recycle my duvet and buy some proper, old-school woollen blankets, but none seems to sell them.

A charity supporting homeless people is a good shout as said above.

Freecycle. Someone will take them.

Homeless charities defo don't want duvets. They get wet & are useless.

A charity near me takes them, but only after they have been dry cleaned and still in the bag with cleaning tag

This is an issue with a lot of items these days ... I manage a charity shop and we get donated huge amounts of products we just can't sell ... and people get so offended and feel it's our responsibility to organise responsible recycling which we try to do but that takes up time and energy from our focus which is raising funds for the charity. Not being a 'feel good' alternative to the local tip.

I have been in the same situation, and still have them in a cupboard because I haven't solved it.
I was considering cutting each one into quarters and binding the edges. Then covering one side in waterproof fabric and the other in spare fabric. Then giving to the homeless (we have lots here). Perhaps even making a drawstring bag with an old duvet cover.
They would last long but might be useful for a while and, being smaller, perhaps could be washed.
I haven't found the right sort of waterproof fabric, and I don't know whether it's feasible. Hence nothings been done.

For some reason my mum had 9 spare duvets when she died. I have no idea why. In summer i store them in vacuum-compressed bags stashed round the house.

Then in winter...

My daughter and i each have one under us in bed, for added warmth in winter.

I wrap one round my legs in my home office in winter.

My son has one on the floor when he plays. It can be quite drafty sitting kn the floor.

I chopped another one in half and sewed up the edge, and i hang behind the curtains for some extra insulation there.

Turn into draft excluders, if you are handy with a sewing machine.

Reuse the stuffing to make cushions or bean bag filling.