In Alanya, textile waste is being brought back to life thanks to clothing containers
Alanya, through 353 clothing containers positioned at various points across the city by the Climate Change and Zero Waste Directorate, has collected a total of 150,219 kilograms of textile waste in just 4 months.
The clothing containers, placed at 353 locations that are heavily used, aim to promote more efficient use of resources and the recovery of waste for the benefit of the national economy. Citizens contribute to the zero-waste concept by disposing of their old or unused clothes, shoes, accessories, and textile products in these containers.
The collected clothing items are taken by licensed firms, where they are washed and ironed, after which they are distributed to those in need through the "Gönül Pınarı" stores, part of the Social Assistance Directorate. Items that are no longer usable are sent for recycling into textile raw materials at recycling facilities via licensed firms.
According to the Municipality of Alanya, a total of 150 tons (150,219 kg) of textile waste was collected for recycling, with 27,910 kilograms collected in September, 29,647 kilograms in October, 54,020 kilograms in November, and 36,590 kilograms in December.
Sevda Çapa, Director of Climate Change and Zero Waste at Alanya Municipality, emphasized the importance of recycling used clothing and textile waste: "Reducing the impacts of climate change and using resources efficiently are among our priority goals for building the city's environmental future. Disposing of textile waste means wasting the necessary oil, chemicals, energy, and water that would be required to produce the same amount of raw materials. Polymers used in textile production, such as polyamide, polyester, and polypropylene, remain in nature for a long time and occupy large areas in landfills. The main ecological issues in the textile industry are related to the amount of wastewater and the types and quantities of chemicals contained in them. For a sustainable future, efficient use of natural resources, energy efficiency, reduction of industrial waste burdens, and minimization of factors contributing to environmental pollution are of vital importance."
