The amount of textile waste has increased is clearly noticeable at Myrorna, says Matilda Wester, who is the head of goods supply.
It's enormous volumes and we notice it in our flows. We have a clothes box somewhere and the volumes in it have doubled or more than that.
According to Myrorna's calculation, it's about nearly 13,000 tons that have entered the waste system. It corresponds to 100 blue whales, or a convoy over seven kilometers long with trucks fully loaded with clothes.
Fewer garments
The survey suggests that we will continue to clear out. Seven out of ten believe that they will own fewer or as many garments as we do today. The proportion who think they have too many garments has also decreased.
Most, 88 percent in the survey, are aware of the textile waste law. But fewer think they have received clear information from the municipality about how it should be done.
Three out of four do not think they have received sufficient information. Matilda Wester says that confusion arises for many in municipalities where all textiles should be handed in at the same place.
A conflict
You have your worn-out socks and underwear and arrive at a clothes box where you previously put nice clothes for reuse. That you suddenly should throw away the worn-out clothes there too becomes a conflict for many.
For the organizations that receive textiles, it means more work with sorting and a smaller proportion that actually can be sold on. But Matilda Wester that there is ongoing work.
Now we're starting to have a new type of conversation with the municipalities. We will need to take several steps before we are in port with recycling all textiles that previously lay in the trash.
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation has previously estimated that Swedes throw away an average of 0.75 kilos of textiles in household waste each month.
72 percent in Myrorna's survey state that they have gotten rid of sorted-out textiles since the turn of the year.
It becomes, according to Myrorna's calculation, 7.6 million Swedes who during the period from January 1 to March 10 have gotten rid of 1.7 kilos of textiles – a total of 12,990 tons.
Source: Myrorna
