Erfurt in turmoil: Sourcing the old clothing container - city intervenes!

Erfurt in turmoil: Sourcing the old clothing container - city intervenes!

Erfurt, Deutschland - A walk in the Rieth district of erfurt brought an unexpected discovery for Steffen. A high mountain of old clothes and garbage bags lined up on the old clothes container, the whole thing caused shaking your head. In a Facebook group, Steffen shared a photo of the sight and ironic: "Miracle of nature". The reactions of other users were not long in coming. Many were horrified and described the situation as "bad to look at", which rightly denounces the improper use of the clothing collection. According to thueringen24.de the city of Erfurt became aware of the incident and explained that the container is not indicating and caught by the city was.

The city administration has already announced plans to eliminate the container and the surrounding chaos in the coming days. The property owners are responsible for the clean use of the containers. There is great need for citizens to make useful clothing directly to organizations such as Caritas, contact in crises and other clothing chambers instead of throwing them into the containers without thinking.

rising problems in Thuringia

The problems related to old clothing containers are not just an isolated case in Erfurt. In Thuringia, numerous municipalities and charitable institutions have difficulty overcrowding and the wrong content of the containers. Mandy Plickert from the city administration of Weimar confirmed that the containers are increasingly overcrowded and that waste is also unloaded outside. These grievances are not new: cities such as Jena, Gera, Eisenach and organizations such as the German Red Cross report similar difficulties that are intensified by the new EU directive to the separate collection that has been in force since January 2025. Many consumers are unsettled by the new regulations for the disposal of worn or dirty textiles that should end up in the residual waste bin.

Another problem is the high garbage content in old clothing containers, which has existed for a long time and is even more difficult to manage through the EU requirements. The valuable, still portable clothing is contaminated by the garbage and loses its benefit. According to diethueringer.de, non-profit collectors, such as the DRK, have to sort out in order to save usable pieces for clothing chambers. Up to 65% of the clothing collected is exported as second-hand goods.

The new regulations in view

The EU directive pursues the goal of strengthening the circular economy and promoting better reuse and recycling of textiles. From January 1, 2025, a strict distinction between portable clothing and damaged textiles will be introduced. The latter must be disposed of via the correct channels, such as recycling centers or special old clothing containers. However, consumers are allowed to dispose of damaged textiles in residual waste, which, from the perspective of environmentalists, is considered rather questionable, since these are mostly burned.

Another obstacle to the sustainable implementation is the increasing spread of fast fashion, which often produces inferior textiles that are difficult to recycle. The resulting challenges could result in longer queues in the old clothing containers - a fact that complicates both collectors and municipalities. Again and again the question arises: How can we as a consumer help improve the situation?

Compared to earlier times, as a collection of clothes, the charitable organizations are now often faced with the challenge that the proceeds fall flat and the disposal costs increase. This can lead to fewer old dresses containers available in the future. In Jena, for example, there are already approaches of a structural withdrawal of collectors, which could further tighten the situation.

The citizens are called to deal responsibly with their old clothes and to consciously use the offers of the organizations. Awareness of a meaningful consumption and the willingness of the correct disposal are necessary to improve this cycle and relieve the environment.