From January 1, 2025, a new waste fraction will apply. Now textiles, because we are talking about them, cannot be placed in mixed waste containers, which was allowed until the end of last year.
Where to throw away textiles?
Organizing the collection of textiles is the task of each commune, which is obliged to establish at least one Point for Selective Municipal Waste Collection, i.e. the so-called PSZOK. Residents can take used textiles to any such point. This mainly concerns textiles that are so damaged that they cannot be reused. Clothes in good condition can still be placed in charity bins.
There are four such PSZOK waste collection points in Warsaw:
- street Płytowa 1 – Białołęka
- street Kampinoska 1 – Bielany
- street Zawodzie 1 – Wilanów
- street Tatarska 2/4 – Wola
PSZOKs are open on weekdays (from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and on Saturdays (from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Which textiles are segregated?
According to the new regulations, all textiles are subject to mandatory segregation, i.e clothes, footwear, curtains, drapes, bedding, tablecloths, blankets, bedspreads and etc.
Why sort textiles?
Old clothes pose a serious threat to the environment. Textiles, especially those made of plastic, like plastic, take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing microplastics that cause water and soil pollution. Data from the European Parliament indicate that the average European throws away about 11 kg of textiles a year, and as much as 87 percent from textiles goes to landfills or incinerators.
Additionally, the production of clothes consumes large amounts of energy and water.
For these reasons, the introduction of selective clothing collection is absolutely justified. Thanks to segregation, it will be possible to recycle or reuse them. European data shows that only 1 percent clothing is recycled.
Are the new regulations a surprise? It seems not, because for many years a large part of society has been throwing old clothes into the containers of charitable foundations located throughout the country anyway.
What are the consequences of poor waste segregation?
For throwing textiles into mixed waste or other containers there may be a penalty in the form of an increase in waste collection fees of 200%. up to 400 percent Therefore, you need to be careful because even one mistake can result in a higher rate being charged.
