Austrians Support EU Ban on Destroying Unsold Clothes

A survey in Austria reveals that 85 percent of citizens support the new European Union ban on destroying unsold clothing and shoes. The Altstoff Recycling Austria AG (ARA) conducted the representative survey following the weekend implementation of the ban. Approximately 94 percent of Austrians also want mandatory recycling of damaged textiles starting in 2028, diverting them from landfill.

Currently, over 213,000 tons of textile waste accumulate annually in Austria, with around 75 percent being incinerated rather than separated for recycling. Across Europe, an estimated 4 to 9 percent of unsold textiles are destroyed each year, generating around 5.6 million tons of CO2 emissions.

While public support is high, ARA notes a gap between intention and action regarding damaged textiles, as roughly half of respondents admit to currently discarding them with regular waste despite feeling uneasy about it. The organization emphasizes the need for improved sorting and recycling infrastructure to facilitate a circular textile economy.