Textile recycling refers to the recovery of old textiles and clothing for reuse. A typical textile process includes collecting, sorting and processing the textiles, which later gets transported to consumers.
The core of the textile recycling industry is the growing textile industry. The US—with its exceptional research and development in the textile industry—had exported textile and fiber worth approximately $28 billion back in 2015.
The Importance Of Textile Recycling
Landfills are common ways to dispose waste materials by burying them in a ground. However, some fibers can take as much as a hundred years to completely decompose. During this time, they can produce carbon dioxide gas and methane, and release it in the atmosphere. Also known as greenhouse gases, these harm the environment by increasing the overall temperature of the Earth.
Moreover, many synthetic fibers don’t decompose at all. While they’re often disposed off in landfills, they can release harmful substances in the soil and groundwater. Therefore, textile recycling is necessary to reduce landfills.
Benefits of Textile Recycling
Textile recycling promises these benefits for the environment.
- Reduces landfills requirements. Fewer landfills ensure that the same space is used for more productive purposes. Moreover, synthetic fibers that don’t decompose can harm the surrounding soil, while natural fibers tend to release greenhouse gases.
- Industrial processes require excessive energy. When textiles are reused, the overall energy consumption of an industry can significantly reduce.
- Textile recycling aids in reducing pollution.
- Recycled textiles ensure less use of dyes.
Sources For Textile Recycling
These sources can be used for textile recycling.
These include scrap from fabric or yarn manufacturer or from other textile industries.
These include garments, household items, vehicle upholstery, etc.
Textile Recycling Process
The recycling process can be different for synthetic and natural fibers. However, natural fibers are recycled using the following process.
The material is first sorted by its color and type. The process of color sorting ensures no re-dying of the material is done. This can save energy and reduce release of pollutants.
After sorting, the textile is shredded into fibers. Other materials can also be incorporated at the shredding stage based on the final use of the recycled textile.
The carding process involves cleaning and mixing of the yarn.
After the cleaning and mixing, the yarn is prepared for further knitting and weaving by re-spinning it.
The yarn can also be compressed instead of re-spinning it to use for textile fillings.
As more people are being aware of the hazards of landfills, textile recycling industries are destined to grow. If you’re looking for used recycling equipment, Crigler Enterprises, Inc. is your place to get it. We provide quality waste and scrap processing equipment such as conveyors, balers, shredder and many more. Contact us to know more about our services.