Ealing Council has teamed up with a charity retailer to make clothes recycling easier for residents and reduce the amount of textiles being thrown away.

New clothes donation banks are being installed into towns across the borough over the next couple of weeks, thanks to the council’s recent partnership with Traid.

You can visit the Traid website to find your nearest clothes bank, or even book a free home collection.

No fly-tipping please

The banks should be used for good quality clothing donations. They are replacing several banks that had been removed due to persistent misuse and fly-tipping. Leaving items next to or anywhere outside the banks is classed as fly-tipping, which is illegal and could result in enforcement action. If the banks are misused, the service could be removed.

Council Leader Peter Mason said: “Every item of clothing donated through these banks helps cut carbon, reduce waste and support people in need.

“This is about more than recycling – it’s about creating a fairer, greener borough, where everyone can play a part in protecting our planet.”

Councillor Paul Driscoll, the council’s cabinet member for climate action, added: “Let’s work together to keep our borough clean and keep our textiles in use longer.

“Remember, this is our home, not a tip. Your clothing donations are appreciated, but if the clothes are left outside the donation bank, this is fly-tipping.”

What to do with unwanted clothes

The Traid donation banks offer a responsible and sustainable way to donate unwanted clothes, helping to reduce waste and support circular fashion. Residents can also donate good quality clothing by using:

• Traid’s free home collection service
• Greenford Road Reuse and Recycling Centre
• local charity shops – do not leave donations outside shops, this is fly-tipping
• online resale platforms

If the items are in need of repair or in poor condition, consider repurposing them. You could cut them into cleaning rags. If this is not possible you can dispose of them in your household waste bin.

Residents can also learn how to repair and extend the life of their clothes at the Ealing Repair Café, a community initiative that promotes sustainable living through practical skills.

A mission to change fashion for good

Traid is a charity retailer on a mission to change fashion for good. In the UK, they collect, curate and resell second-hand clothes, keeping over 3,000 tonnes of clothing in use every year. Globally, they fund good causes that support the people who make our clothes, from organic cotton farmers to garment workers.

The new Traid partnership supports the council’s commitment to tackling climate change and promoting responsible waste management.