Encouraging Public Engagement with Textiles Waste Management

Dr Pammi Sinha, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures

Discarded textiles should be regarded as a resource and not as waste. According to WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), 47% of discarded textiles are sent to landfill but yet 93-97% of textile waste is capable of being reutilised. The aim of this project is to raise public awareness of the potential uses of discarded textiles and to encourage the public to engage in appropriate divestment practices for unwanted textiles. An open meeting involving industry, academics, city council and the wider public would raise awareness of the issues surrounding textile waste management and highlight public perceptions of textile waste management practices. A website would be created with three focus areas: 'technical' - academic abstracts to promote public understanding of social science and demonstrate the range of technical feasibilities for re-utilising textiles; 'business' - descriptions and links to publicly available websites of companies involved in textile reprocessing; and 'peer-to-peer' - for sharing of knowledge and good ideas/news stories around textile reutilisation. Physical visits to various sites noted on the Leeds City Council waste management website would confirm/update the information and identify accessible locations where 'waste' textiles can be donated.

Dr Pammi Sinha can be contacted by email: P.K.Sinha@leeds.ac.uk