Frequently Asked Questions About Our Clothing and Textiles Campaign
General Questions:
What are post-consumer textiles?
Post-consumer textiles broadly refer to products under the European Union’s definition of textiles ecosystem products—textiles, clothing, leather and footwear—that have been collected for reuse and as waste from household, individual, commercial, and industrial activity. It includes non-clothing textiles, some industrial and home/interior textiles. Specifically, this includes the following:
Clothing
- Outerwear – coats & jackets
- Sweaters, Sweatshirts & Cardigans
- Trousers, Jeans, Sweatpants
- Tops & shirts
- Dresses & skirts
- Hats & scarves
- Gloves, bags & belts
- Baby & toddler clothes
- Uniforms
- Sports & Gym wear
- Bras
- Shoes, boots & trainers
Household Textiles
- Bedlinen – duvet covers & sheets
- Throws & blankets
- Towels
- Table linen
- Curtains
What is the Textiles Reuse & Recycling Map?
A resource to locate places where you can donate or discard unwanted clothes and household textiles. As part of Phase 1 of our project, we’ve mapped charity shops and clothing banks (data provided by Charity Retail Ireland), as well as Local Authority clothing banks and civic amenity sites. Phase 2 will focus on gathering and mapping data on retail return points and private sites.
How can I access the map?
You can access the map directly through this link:
https://textilesmap.mywaste.ie/
Alternatively, you can access the map through the campaign page on the MyWaste website here:
https://mywaste.ie/sustainability/clothing-and-textiles/
What information does the map provide?
The map provides the location, address, and useful information such as opening hours and the items accepted.
What is the purpose of this campaign?
In this campaign, we are asking citizens to ensure items such as clothing, paired footwear, and household textiles are clean, dry, folded, and neatly bagged before placing them in clothing banks, bringing them to your local civic amenity site, or donating them to charity shops. These simple yet important steps can give these items a second life and help support Ireland’s transition to a circular economy.
Donating:
What types of textiles can be donated?
Clothing, Paired Footwear, Towels and Sheets.
Are there any items that should not be donated?
Yes – badly soiled, ripped or torn clothing and shoes. If it’s not re-wearable, please dispose of these items in the general waste bin.
How should I prepare my textiles for donating?
Ensure they are clean and dry, roll or fold them into a bag, and always put them inside the clothing bank, not on the ground. Alternatively, bring them inside the charity shop – do not leave them outside.
Should I bag them or drop them off loose?
Using a bag keeps items clean and dry. Remember, the opening slots of the clothing banks are small, so use shopping bags rather than large bin liners.
Can I donate underwear?
Good-quality, lightly used, and clean underwear can be reused—especially items such as bras, vests, and children’s underwear. However, stained, damaged, or heavily worn items should be disposed of in the general waste bin.
Why can’t I donate pillows and duvets?
Due to hygiene reasons, they are not suitable for reuse. These should be placed in the general waste bin.
Can I donate used school uniforms?
Check with your school to see if they can be swapped or made available for reuse.
Is there a limit to how many bags I can donate?
No.
Locations to donate your used textiles:
How do I find the nearest donation points using the map?
To find the nearest donation points using the map:
- Interactive map: Zoom in and out using your fingers or the on-screen zoom buttons to explore the area.
- Search panel: Enter a keyword, such as a county or town, to refine your search.
- Apply filters: Filter by county or the types of items accepted for donation.
- View donation points: Click on a pin to view a box with details, including the type of donation point (e.g., charity shop, clothing bank, or civic amenity site), address, opening hours, items accepted, and direct links to Google or Apple Maps for directions.
What is the difference between Bring Banks, Civic Amenity Sites and Charity Shops?
Bring Banks are public collection points for textiles and other recyclables, usually located in car parks or public areas. Civic Amenity Sites are recycling centres managed by Local Authorities or in some cases by private companies, where you can drop off a wider range of materials, including textiles. Charity Shops are retail stores that accept donated items, including clothing and household textiles, which they sell to raise funds for their causes.
How do I suggest a new donation point?
If you would like to suggest a new donation point, please get in touch through our contact form.
The clothing bank is full what do I do?
If a clothing bank is full, you can:
- Find an alternative location using the textile reuse and recycling map on MyWaste.ie.
- Contact the number displayed on the clothing bank or reach out to your Local Authority to make them aware.
- Use the “Report an Issue” feature on the map get in touch.
Please do not leave bags of textiles beside full clothing banks. This is considered illegal dumping, and Local Authorities may use CCTV to monitor bring bank sites. You may be issued a fine, and the items you intended to donate will be treated as waste.
The charity shop is not taking donations at the moment, what can I do with my unwanted textiles?
Check the map here to find your nearest donation location.
Education:
How are donated textiles reused or recycled?
In most cases, donated textiles are sorted by charities and textile operators so they can be sold for reuse both at home and abroad.
Are my donated textiles sold in charity shops, or are they recycled?
Charity shops aim to sell as many items as possible. When they can’t, they sell them to textile operators, and in many cases, these items are exported abroad for reuse.
How does donating textiles contribute to sustainability?
Donating textiles helps reduce waste and contributes to Ireland’s circular economy by reusing clothes and household textiles instead of buying new.
How can I be more circular when it comes to my clothes?
Buy fewer, choose quality, and repair, reuse, or donate clothes instead of throwing them away. For more information, visit the textiles webpage.
Additional Information:
How can I get more information about the campaign or the map?
For more information, visit the textiles webpage.
Where can I learn to do minor repairs or make my clothes last longer?
For more information, please see the textiles webpage.
For more information on events or workshops on textile repairs please visit:
https://circular.ie/events