Clothing recycling bins address greener lifestyles

A Hechi resident drops off a bag of clothes for recycling on March 8. Clothing donations are reused to make mops and cleaning materials, or donated to poorer communities and remote villages. [Photo/hcwang.cn]

More than 10 tons of clothes have been collected in Hechi, after a scheme to place 150 clothing recycling bins around the city came into effect last December.

Recycling bins, setup in residential areas and public places, have received a groundswell of support from the local community over the past three months.

"I always feel it is a waste to just throw away used clothes", said Hechi resident Liu on March 9. "Clothing recycling bins are really a good idea and are not only convenient but also environmentally friendly."

The scheme is being run by a group of Hechi charities and encourages people to live greener less wasteful lifestyles.

In recent years, clothing recycling schemes have gained in popularity throughout many Chinese cities to redress the balance between economic growth and sustainability.

"We are planning to invest more to put clothing recycling bins in Yizhou and Huanjiang areas later this year，" said Cheng Zhicheng, vice secretary of the charity association.

The recycled clothing is often reused and distributed to poorer communities or remote villages.