Old clothing emergency in Salzwedel: Overfilled containers and chaos!

Old clothing emergency in Salzwedel: Overfilled containers and chaos!

A look at the used clothing containers in Salzwedel shows a picture of anger: overfilled containers at the Netto market and textiles lying carelessly on the floor. The situation is tense because the city is struggling with the situation surrounding the disposal of used clothing. AZ Online reports that the withdrawal of many public containers is due to a lack of agreements with relevant companies and non-profit organizations. What is particularly depressing is the fact that the industry is in crisis and some companies have already filed for bankruptcy.

Containers were already removed from Salzwedel in December 2024. There are currently only six locations that offer used clothing containers, including the parking lot at Netto. The situation is getting worse: it is being observed more and more often that wild deposits of textiles are increasing. This could be due to the missing containers.

Legal obligations and challenges

With the Circular Economy Act (KrWG) coming into force in January 2025, citizens are obliged to collect used textiles separately from residual waste. The aim of this regulation is clear: reusable or recyclable textiles should not end up in normal waste. The Federal Environment Agency points out that private households must hand over their waste to public waste disposal providers, while non-profit and commercial collections must register their activities with the responsible authorities.

Another problem is illegal waste disposal. In particular, leaving textiles outside of the containers can result in three-digit fines. However, the Altmarkkreis has introduced a drop-off system in which citizens can hand in used textiles free of charge to waste management and recycling centers. In addition, it is recommended that unwearable textiles be disposed of with residual waste.

Waste management problems

Citizens affected by the disposal of old clothing should also keep an eye on the risks. The Federal Environment Ministry has drawn up rules to ensure the proper disposal of old textiles. If bins are filled incorrectly, there is a possibility that they will not be picked up initially to give citizens the opportunity to correct their waste. However, incorrectly filled bins can cause additional costs later.

The problems surrounding the used clothing containers in Salzwedel are symptomatic of a far-reaching challenge in dealing with textile waste. It is all the more important that citizens are informed about correct disposal and make conscious decisions. This not only saves your wallet, but also makes a small contribution to environmental protection.