// Primark announces the rollout this week of clothing recycling programme via the Primark In-Store Recycling Scheme
// Calls for customers’ pre-loved clothes, footwear & bags from any brand to be deposited in in-store collection boxes
// All donated items will be reused, recycled or repurposed, with nothing going to landfill
Primark customers can now recycle any brand of pre-loved clothes, textiles, footwear and bags at any of the retailer’s 190 stores across the UK as part of a new recycling scheme.
Known as the Primark In-Store Recycling Scheme, collection boxes will be available in the value retailer’s 190 stores across the UK.
All donated items will be reused, recycled or repurposed, with nothing going to landfill, and profits from the scheme will go to UNICEF to support of its education programmes for vulnerable children around the world.
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The recycling scheme also follows calls from the non-profit Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) for people to protect charity shops from the influx of donations expected as lockdown eases, after it estimated that more than a third of the population have had a clear out of unwanted clothing while stuck at home.
Meanwhile, Primark partnered with Yellow Octopus to implement its recycling scheme, which aims for as many donations as possible to be worn again, with the remainder being repurposed into new products such as insulation, toy stuffing and mattress fillers.
Primark said the in-store recycling scheme is the latest step in its wider Primark Cares initiative, which also features the expansion of Primark’s Sustainable Cotton Programme and investment in the use of sustainable fibres across all product ranges.
“We know people don’t always find it easy to recycle their clothes, textiles and shoes. And we know people have had big clear outs during lockdown,” Primark sustainability director Katherine Stewart said.
“Now is the perfect time to be launching our in-store recycling programme, making it convenient for customers to give a second life to items from their wardrobe that they no longer need.
“This will reduce waste going to landfill and help our customers to help the environment.
“With the profits going to UNICEF’s important childhood education programmes we are also supporting our global charity partner in their work.”
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