The future of textile recycling: eliminating burned and discarded clothes

Welcome to your monthly dose of trends and advancements in the waste management sector. We are here to explore innovative solutions for today's most pressing challenges.?

Fun fact: Did you know only 1% of used clothing is recycled into new garments? You might be wondering—what happens to the rest? Keep reading to find out!?

Industry trends and challenges?

A new era for textile recycling: challenges and innovations?

Starting in 2025, the EU will require all discarded clothing to be collected separately. With over 7.2 million tons of textiles thrown away annually, this is a major step toward sustainability. But the real challenge? Recycling.?

Why is textile recycling so difficult??

• Most clothes are made from mixed fibers, making separation complex.?

• Chemicals used in fabrics and the low quality of fast fashion materials complicate processing.?

The search for solutions?

A major European project, SCIRT, is tackling these issues:?

• AI-powered sorting machines by Belgian company Valvan efficiently separate fibers by type and color.?

• Brands like Decathlon and Xandres are designing clothing made entirely from recyclable materials, such as polyester swimsuits.?

The road ahead?

Europe is moving toward Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), requiring fashion brands to finance clothing collection and sorting. France and the Netherlands are already implementing this, while Belgium is still in transition.?

With new technology and stricter regulations, textile recycling is evolving. But achieving a fully circular fashion industry requires continuous innovation.?

Read the full article here.?

Sustainability and smart cities?

Is a Deposit Return System (DRS) for PET bottles and cans finally coming??

Although not included in the Flemish coalition agreement, deposit return is back on the table. The reason? Meeting the EU’s environmental targets by 2029. But how will the system actually work??

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Why deposit return??

• 80.8% of PET bottles are collected separately in Flanders, but only 64.2% of cans—well below the EU’s 90% target.?

• Experts say reaching this goal without a deposit system is nearly impossible.?

A digital or classic system??

• Digital DRS: Consumers scan bottles and cans before disposal, getting refunds digitally. However, concerns exist about privacy and accessibility.?

• Return-to-Retail: Consumers return empties to supermarkets and receive refunds via receipts. Effective, but retailers worry about increased costs.?

What’s next for Belgium??

A unified system across Belgium is needed, as packaging moves freely between regions. Experts predict full implementation will take 2-3 years, likely as a hybrid model combining digital refunds with physical return points.?

Case study?

Moorslede achieves 48% ROI with Rebin's smart waste management solution?

Situation: Managing public waste is a major challenge for local governments. Moorslede, Belgium, struggled to empty bins efficiently, relying on fixed routes and estimates.?

The solution

Rebin installed 58 smart sensors in public bins, providing real-time fill level data, allowing optimized collection schedules and reducing inefficiencies.?

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The results

• Collection time reduced from 8 hours to 3 hours per week?

• Distance driven cut from 75 km to 24 km per week?

• Bins collected dropped from 85 to just 18 full bins per week?

• 48% ROI achieved within 8 months?

Moorslede’s transformation showcases the power of data-driven waste management—saving time, money, and the environment.?

What is happening at Rebin??

Major software updates

At Rebin, we continuously innovate. Our latest update introduces an advanced planning agent that automates waste collection route scheduling, optimizing operations.?

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What’s new??

? Automated route scheduling – Plan ahead based on predicted fill levels and fleet availability.?

? Geographical segmentation into regions – Optimize waste collection based on self-selected zones.?

Customer experience?

Idverde NL, responsible for waste collection in the Port of Rotterdam, shares their experience:?

“If only a few bins are full but scattered across kilometers, collecting them in one route isn’t efficient. With Rebin’s automated route generation, we optimize our operations and reduce wasteful pickups.”?

With this upgrade, waste collection becomes more efficient, structured, and effortless. Ready to see it in action??

Upcoming events??

Rebin is heading to London!?

Rebin has been selected as one of the top 10 most promising university start-ups for the Eurostart Venture Awards (EVA).?

On February 20, 2025, we will proudly represent Ghent University as alumni in London, showcasing how Rebin is shaping the future of waste management.?

That’s a wrap for this month’s edition of the smartest way forward. We hope you’re as excited about the future of the waste management sector as we are!?

Don’t miss our next update—follow us for more insights and innovations. Thanks for reading, and see you next time!?

The Rebin team?

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