Nykvarn, Sweden: Telge Recycling inaugurates a sorting centre in response to the textile waste crisis, aiming to process large volumes of discarded textiles locally. The facility, which cost nearly 15 million kronor, seeks to transform waste management and enhance profitability through innovative sorting techniques.
In an effort to revolutionise textile waste management, Telge Recycling has inaugurated a new sorting centre in the Snebro industrial area of Nykvarn, Sweden, aiming to address the growing challenge of textile waste disposal. Since the introduction of legal requirements for municipalities to collect textile waste earlier this year, the initiative comes in response to the rising issue, with nearly 100,000 tons of textiles discarded annually. On average, each Swede throws away between 7 to 9 kilos of clothing every year.
Arunas Paukste, a Lithuanian expert recruited by Telge to lead the operation, plays a central role in this initiative. Speaking to SVT Nyheter, Paukste articulated the vision of the recycling centre, stating, “In my opinion, we will create a lot of value here, by not sending off textiles that have no value but taking care of them locally.” His expertise is seen as pivotal in establishing a systematic approach to textile waste management that emphasises local processing over disposal.
The facility, which opened at the end of January, is designed to manage the textile flow from one-fifth of the country, reflecting the magnitude of Sweden’s textile waste issues. Telge Recycling is already progressing swiftly, having secured contracts for half of the centre’s capacity. The clothes processed at the facility are categorised into six distinct groups: Reuse, shoes, bags, knick-knacks, rags, and burnable items, alongside packaging materials.
Notably, the centre represents a significant investment, costing just under 15 million kronor, partially funded by government grants. The overarching goal is to enhance the profitability of textile processing, with expectations that sorted bags of clothing can be sold for 50 per cent more than their purchase price, aiming for a 10 per cent profit margin by the end of this year.
Currently, a substantial volume of discarded textiles is incinerated, often deemed too damaged or soiled for resale in second-hand stores. The new sorting centre aspires to change this trend, salvaging textiles that might otherwise be lost, thereby contributing to more sustainable waste management practices.
Source: Noah Wire Services
