Perth and Kinross Council is encouraging residents to think differently about unwanted clothing and to make the most of what they already have, by reducing, reusing and repairing.
Households across Perth and Kinross are throwing away significant amounts of clothing each year, with the average family discarding 16.1 kilograms of clothes, shoes and household textiles annually.
With the rise of fast fashion, people are buying more clothes and keeping them for less time.
Too many textiles thrown away in Perth and Kinross could still be worn, reused or repaired. However, around 70% of textiles that residents discard goes straight into the green bin. These items are removed from the reuse system and instead processed through Energy from Waste, where they are burned to generate electricity rather than being reused or recycled.
Of the textiles remaining, most are placed in textile banks, where they are graded into reusable and non-reusable with the non-reusable textiles being made into items like rags and insulation.
Repairing or reusing clothing is one of the simplest ways for residents to save money, cut waste and reduce environmental impact.
Saving money on clothes is easier than you think. Across Perth and Kinross, there are many local services and organisations that can help people keep clothing in use for longer, whether by selling or buying pre‑loved items, repairing small faults, or passing on good‑quality clothing to someone else.
Simple actions can make a big difference:
- Reduce - sell unwanted items, find pre‑loved bargains, rent outfits for special occasions and take care of clothes so they last longer.
- Repair - fix small issues before they become bigger problems and refresh clothes with simple alterations.
- Reuse - donate, swap or pass on good‑quality items so they can be worn again.
A list of local places that can help people repair, reuse and reduce textile waste is available.
A window display has been set up in Perth High Street to encourage people to repair, reuse and reduce when it comes to clothing and textiles.
Councillor Richard Watters, Convenor of the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, visited the display and said: "Keeping textiles in use for as long as possible is the single most effective way to reduce the environmental impact of clothing.
"The textile industry is responsible for 2% to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, uses vast amounts of water, and contributes around 9% of microplastic pollution in the oceans.
"Most clothes that are thrown in the bin can be repaired, reused or passed on. Making small changes, like fixing a tear, using a local reuse shop or donating good‑quality items, can help households save money while reducing waste.
"Perth and Kinross has a strong network of local reuse and repair organisations, and I would encourage people to use them and think 'reduce, reuse and repair' before putting clothes in the bin."
