Rediscover old clothes.

Around 750.000 tons of textiles are being discarded in Germany every year. The majority lands in old clothes containers, clothing stores or clothing collections. 'If one considers that a tee-shirt covers up to 12.000 kilometres from raw material to the finished end product in the shop, it is important to choose a long and meaningful usage and utilisation', says Dorothee Kleinermanns, waste consultant at the district Viersen.

One possibility is passing it on to charitable facilities. Clothes stores, social shops or similar facilities need good usable clothing. This ranges from offers for certain groups of persons to bed linen, towels, table linen, blankets to home textiles etc. 'Clothing should always be in bags when thrown into an old clothing container to avoid them getting dirty or wet.'

Stained, torn or matted clothing does not belong in clothes collections as these are sorted by hand and have to be disposed at costs.
Everybody can contribute so that the old clothes mountian doesn't increases. Buying behaviour is important. Even if one wants to be fashionably dressed the wardrobe doesn't have to overflow. Buy timeless clothing of long living quality and combine these with topical modern pieces and accessories. Later these can be sold in Second-Hand-Shops or on flea markets.

Another possibility is a change-clothes-party: 'With lots of fun and good will a clothes changing exchange can be a great success', so Dorothee Kleinermanns.
There are special exchange events for baby and children's clothes. These are made public by notices in kindergartens, schools, parish communities or in the media. 'As used children's clothes has been washed often there is no need to think in regards to harmful substances in textiles.'

A number of church communities and social facilities organise clothes shops. Whatever is dropped there will be given mostly to the needy.
For fashion freaks and individualists second-hand clothes are exciting: They are less expensive in comparison to new clothes and in regards to retro-look the original piece is interesting. Addresses of second-hand shops are available on the Internet or classified directory.

Further information is available at the waste advice of the districts Viersen, Telephone: +49 2162 391212 .