RESIDENTS across West Norfolk are being urged to clear out their wardrobes and bank their old clothes in a bid to protect the environment and raise funds for their local area. Textile recycling is often overlooked in favour of more popular items such as g

RESIDENTS across West Norfolk are being urged to clear out their wardrobes and bank their old clothes in a bid to protect the environment and raise funds for their local area.

Textile recycling is often overlooked in favour of more popular items such as glass and paper, so Recycling Officers at the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk are urging residents to make clothes their 'thing' and have a sort out.

It is estimated that more than one million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year, with most of this coming from household sources. At least 50% of these textiles are recyclable, however, the proportion of textile wastes reused or recycled annually in the UK is only around 25%.

In recent months the Borough Council has strengthened itst partnership with the Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL) to provide even more clothing recycling banks across West Norfolk. Between June and August six new banks were installed to bring the total across the borough to 16, with additional banks in new locations in the pipeline.

For every tonne of recyclable textiles collected within these banks the Borough Council will make a donation of �10 to parish councils or community organisations who agree to host a bank.