For Immediate Release - 14 November 2024
This National Recycling Week, Planet Ark is challenging Australians to break the cycle of fast fashion and rethink the way they purchase, use and dispose of clothing.
Australians recently became the second highest consumers of textiles in the world on a per capita basis, trailing only the United States. Just as significantly is how quickly we are sending discarding those textiles, with Australia now sending over 300,000 tonnes of clothing to landfill each year.
“From bargain buys to barely-worn blouses, Australians are some of the biggest consumers of clothing in the world, yet the true cost is piling up in our landfills,” said Hailey Durham, Planet Ark Recycling Campaigns Manager.
“It’s time to take action by refusing the temptation of fast fashion, and by reusing, repairing, and recycling the clothing we already have, and that’s a key goal of Planet Ark’s this National Recycling Week.
Australia’s fashion waste issue in numbers:
- A 2020 study in Nature reported that the fashion industry accounts for approximately 10% of global emissions.
- Australia is the second-highest consumer of textiles per capita, trailing only the United States.
- On average, Australians purchase 56 items of clothing annually—mostly fast fashion made from non-durable, non-sustainable materials.
- This fast-paced consumption leads to over 300,000 tonnes of clothing ending up in landfills each year.
- Another 200,000 tonnes are donated to charities, but much of it is not resellable, leading to costly disposal fees for these organisations.
- Only around 2% of discarded clothing gets recycled, turning textile waste into a significant landfill contributor.
A recent RMIT survey also found that 65% of Australians have clothes they haven't worn in the past year. Additionally, 45% believe their old clothing wouldn’t be desired by others, and nearly 40% have never considered alternatives to throwing away unwanted garments.
Solutions for Change: The Ladder of Rs
To combat this growing problem, Planet Ark advocates for the waste hierarchy—a strategy to act higher up the ‘Ladder of Rs’:
- Refuse & Reduce: Avoid purchasing unnecessary clothing, and if you must, choose preloved items or high-quality pieces designed to last.
- Repair: Extend the lifespan of garments by mending minor damages or altering them. Creative upcycling can turn old pieces into something new. By caring for your clothing well in the first place (such as by following laundering instructions), you can reduce the need for these actions and extend your garments’ lifespan,
- Reuse: Pass on gently used clothing to friends, family, or donate to charities and op shops, ensuring they are in good condition. National Recycling Week is a great opportunity to hold a swap party with friends and family so you can trade items. For worn-out garments, repurpose them into rags or find out if your local animal shelter might appreciate it to use as bedding.
- Recycle: For garments beyond repair, turn to specialized recyclers like Rcycl, Textile Recyclers Australia, or Underwear for Humanity, some of which offer convenient pick-up or postal services.
“This year’s focus is not just about reducing waste but about shifting our mindset. Every item of clothing has a story and value—and we should be looking to these rethinking, repairing, reusing, and recycling strategies to extend it,” said Hailey.
National Recycling Week is packed with local events, from clothing swaps to repair workshops, designed to help Australians reduce textile waste. To find out more, visit nationalrecyclingweek.com.au and discover what is happening near you and find a range of resources for how to reduce waste at home, work, school or in the community.
For more resources and information on what to do with clothing or other old textiles, Australians are encouraged to visit recyclingnearyou.com.au/clothing.
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Key Facts:
- National Recycling Week was established in 1996 as an opportunity for Australians to improve their recycling habits and knowledge. This year, a key focus is clothing and textile waste.
- According to a study published in the journal Nature in 2020, the fashion industry is responsible for approximately 10% of global emissions.
- On a per capita basis, Australia is the second highest consumers of textiles in the world after the United States
- The Australian Fashion Council estimates each Australian buys 56 items of clothing yearly, the majority being fast fashion items made from non-sustainable, non-durable materials.
- Exacerbating the issue is the throwaway culture when it comes to our clothing, with Australians disposing about 300,000 tonnes of clothing waste to landfill each year.
- An additional 200,000 tonnes of clothing is donated to charities each year, with much of it not of high enough quality to be resold. This costs the charities significant amounts in disposal fees
- Only about two per cent of old clothing gets recycled, meaning textile waste has become one of the largest contributors to landfill in Australia. All the resources that go into producing, selling and washing the clothes throughout its lifetime then goes to waste.
- A recent RMIT survey found that most Australians (around 65 per cent) have items in their wardrobe that have not been used in over 12 months.
- The survey also found that 45 per cent of consumers believe no one would want their old clothes, while nearly 40 per cent have never considered alternatives to throwing them away.
About us:
About Planet Ark
Planet Ark Environmental Foundation is an Australian not-for-profit organisation with a vision of a world where people live in balance with nature. Established in 1992, it is one of Australia’s leading environmental behaviour change organisations with a focus on working collaboratively and positively. Planet Ark promotes and creates simple, positive environmental actions – for everyone.
About National Recycling Week
Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week, founded in 1996, highlights the environmental benefits of re-use and recycling programs, while making participation enjoyable and easy through community events and programs. The dates for National Recycling Week in 2023 are 11-17 November 2024.
Contact details:
For further information, interviews or images please contact:
Liam Taylor
Communications Manager
02 8484 7205 / 0449 530 525
