A study on textile recycling in college student residence areas
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2022
Abstract
To reduce textile wastes on campus, a study on textile and apparel recycling was conducted in the university community for two semesters. A number of 496 items were collected from five student dorms and one school building. Obtained recycling data outlined a profile of the campus textile wastes in terms of apparel categories, fiber types and fiber blend contents, worn condition, and reuse vs. disposal ratio. The study revealed a heavy use of fiber blends in today’s apparel production, making it practically impossible to recover fibers in disposed textiles/apparels for reuse. A strategy of design for recycling is needed to alleviate the use of blended fiber. Apparel designers should select fibers or fiber blends that already have recycle solutions for reuses, and create recycling labels to help consumers and recycling companies to dispose and collect apparels with needed fibers and fiber blends effectively.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Journal of the Textile Institute
First Page
1854
Last Page
1861
Recommended Citation
Chen, J., Polston, K., Nicols, E., & Phung, B. (2022). A study on textile recycling in college student residence areas. Journal of the Textile Institute, 113 (9), 1854-1861. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2021.1952807