Restart of the old clothing recycling plant in Bitterfeld: A glimmer of hope!

Restart of the old clothing recycling plant in Bitterfeld: A glimmer of hope!

In Bitterfeld-Wolfen, the recycling plant for used clothing, which has been closed since 2024, is running at full speed again. The takeover by the Interzero company has breathed new life into the once closed facility. This important economic measure was confirmed by company spokeswoman Christina Bunnenberg. Production restarted in May 2025, representing a positive new beginning for the region. Previously, 230 employees had lost their jobs at the former operator Soex. Now around 80 employees are back at work, with the employment agency continuing to look for new employees, including warehouse workers. Mayor Armin Schenk (CDU) describes the restart as a decisive signal for the local economy.

But what led to this revival? The answer could lie in the increasing awareness of circular economy, which is becoming increasingly important. The closure of the plant was a clear blight on the economic region at the time. Interzero now comes with optimized sorting processes to reduce costs and has a wide range of options for the economic use of old clothes, including processing them into cleaning rags or blankets. An important sales market for these used textiles is Dubai. But the industry faces challenges.

The challenges of the textile industry

The booming “fast fashion” industry is making life difficult for old clothing recycling. The poor quality of the clothing sold, which is often filled with cheap, short-lived items, means that fewer and fewer old clothing collectors are active. For example, Humana recently dismantled over 200 collection containers in Saxony-Anhalt. This development is viewed by many as alarming, as the capacity overload caused by the increased collection volume requires a sustainable solution. In order to counteract this situation, cities and districts have been legally obliged to organize the collection of used textiles themselves since the beginning of the year.

In order to specifically address the problems of the textile sector, measures are planned to improve the general conditions in the industry. There is a particular focus on developing a circular economy approach that aims to increase sales of durable clothing and promote the use of recycled materials. However, there is currently a lack of sector-specific regulations at all, which could mean that additional measures at EU or national level will be required in the coming years.

A better use of resources

Innovative business models are to be promoted as part of an industry dialogue between the federal government and companies. A real shift in consumer awareness is crucial to reducing new purchases in the fast fashion segment. The need to increase the value of long-lasting garments is underpinned by information and education campaigns. In addition, exchange with municipal institutions is important in order to make circular offers more visible and to support companies in testing new business models such as “Product-as-a-Service”.

All in all, the recommissioning of the Bitterfeld-Wolfen facility not only shows the urgency of a functioning cycle for used clothing, but also the kick-start opportunities for economic development in the region. The coming months will show whether the measures taken are fruitful and whether the industry is able to sustainably transform itself. The responsibility lies with both manufacturers and consumers to shape the future of the textile sector sustainably.

For more information on these topics, you can browse the articles from Tagesschau and MDR and view the circular economy strategies on the Circular Economy Germany website: daily news, MDR, Circular economy Germany.