Only wearable clothing in the containers
12.02.2025 – The blouse no longer looks good, the jeans have thick paint stains from the last renovation and the dog blanket is torn: Most Offenbach residents have so far thrown their old textiles into the old clothes container. In recent weeks, however, there have been repeated inquiries to Stadtservice about what has changed since the mandatory separate collection of textile waste came into force in Germany on January 1.
"Initially, nothing will change for citizens," says Christine Herkströter, Head of Resource and Waste Consulting at Stadtwerke Offenbach's Stadtservice. "The so-called separate collection obligation is intended to further expand the circular economy for textiles in Germany. The aim is to ensure that even more, if possible all, wearable textiles can be reused or, if they are no longer suitable, recycled."
Wearable clothing can be thrown into used clothing containers
However, further steps towards the realization of a genuine circular economy, such as the implementation of extended producer responsibility, are still missing. The Verband Kommunaler Unternehmen e.V. points this out in a press release. In view of the current difficult market for used textiles, it is currently particularly important to pay attention to quality and the careful separation of used textiles.
Wearable clothing can still be disposed of in the depot containers on the streets. However, not every former favorite sweater can still pass as wearable second-hand clothing within the sorting system. Such textiles are then recycled and can be reused as cleaning cloths or insulating materials. However, according to the VKU, these capacities are fully utilized and the demand for insulating materials or cleaning cloths is saturated. It is therefore particularly important not to contaminate the collection in the containers with soiled or torn textiles.
Textiles with paint or oil stains belong in the residual waste garbage can
"The jeans with the unintentional brushstrokes from the last renovation or the stains from the tipped-over bottle of bicycle oil should be disposed of in the residual waste garbage can," says Christian Broos from the Clean Offenbach Stabsstelle. In this context, he once again points out that it is forbidden to place old carpets, curtains or other waste next to the used clothing containers. "This is illegal waste disposal - anyone caught doing this can be fined heavily." Old carpets, for example, can be disposed of at the recycling center in Dieselstraße 7 - one trunk load of bulky waste per week is accepted there free of charge.
Anyone who sees such deposits at an old clothes container can enter them in the Offenbach defect report.