Görlitz overwhelmed: old clothing container on the Nelkenweg is over!

Görlitz overwhelmed: old clothing container on the Nelkenweg is over!

Nelkenweg, 02826 Görlitz, Deutschland - overcrowded old clothing containers are a big topic in Görlitz. In the street on the Nelkenweg, directly on the corner to Christian-Heuck-Straße, the containers are plumply filled with shoes, pants and jackets. Resident Brigitte Röhm, who is already 90 years old, is upset about the grievances. Their displeasure is reflected in the numerous symptoms that are loud both in the city and on social networks. The responsibility for the containers lies with the company profittex, which, however, does not empty as regularly as it would be necessary. In fact, a weekly emptying should take place, but reality looks different. This is also criticized by Elena Schägg from the German Environmental Aid, which indicates the poor conditions and blames the almost fashion industry for this misery.

But what happens to the old clothes that don't end up in the container? From January 1, 2025, used textiles must be collected separately in the EU. This is part of a new EU directive that focuses on reducing burned or deposited textiles and is intended to promote reuse and recycling. In Germany, over one million tons of old textiles come into the containers every year, but not even half of them are still useful. Only 10% of the garments collected go to the needy, while the rest are often marketed outside the EU.

The challenges of recycling

The upcoming changes in legislation raise many questions. In Germany, only about 22% of old textiles are currently in separate collections. Therefore, it is no wonder that there are discussions about the disposal of textiles in residual waste. From January 2025, old textiles will no longer be disposed of or burned in residual waste, but must be recycled. This results in an important responsibility for the public disposal, even if many are already a member of the collection systems.

In Görlitz, the citizens are invited to contact the city administration, while profittex has so far not been available to press requests. The city administration is aware of the problems related to the overcrowded containers and encourages people to keep order. In the discussion about the new EU directive, however, it does not only affect clothing; Bed linen and curtains also fall under this regulation. In this context, a "expanded responsibility of the manufacturer" is being considered throughout the EU, which is more responsible for the producers.

an outlook in the future

The citizens are unsettled and a certain discomfort about the changed conditions is spreading. Uwe Feige from the Association of Local Company emphasizes that many member companies have already had good experiences with the textile collection. Nevertheless, the question remains whether the existing structures are sufficient to deal with the upcoming challenges. Deutsche Environmental Aid is calling for a greater responsibility of the clothing manufacturers to create a sustainable old clothing disposal system. Consumers are encouraged to consume more consciously: buy less, select durable products and observe possibilities such as second-hand.

This is how we are facing a turning point that brings both opportunities and challenges. It remains to be seen how the Situation around the old clothing collection in Görlitz will develop, but one thing is clear: there is something and everyone can make their contribution. Questions and suggestions from the population are therefore becoming more and more important to effectively tackle the grievances.