The children’s charity Barnardo’s Scotland is urging you to spring clean and recycle your old clothes.
This spring, they have teamed up with John Lewis are encouraging everyone in Edinburgh and the Lothian to take part in a mass spring clean and recycling campaign, to rid their wardrobes of unused, unworn and unloved items and recycle them through John Lewis stores – ‘it’s a win, win situation’.
Between 21 March and 6 April 2014, pre-loved clothes can be donated to John Lewis in Edinburgh. All profits from the donations received will fund Barnardo’s Scotland’s work in local communities transforming the lives of children, young people and their families.
It is estimated that a third (around 350,000 tonnes) of all clothes bought in the UK end up in landfill, but the charity believes that if they were donated for reuse or recycling they could generate £140 million in revenue, a staggering amount of money and which the charity could put to very good use.
Extending the life of clothes by just three months of active use per item, would lead to a 5-10% reduction in each of the carbon, water and waste footprints, something we all need to take notice of.
Deriel Loftus, Area Business Manager, said: “We’re really pleased to be partnering with John Lewis in this recycling initiative. It makes perfect sense to recycle unwanted clothes rather than throw them out. The clothes that are donated will be transferred to our stores across Scotland where they will be sold or recycled to raise funds to support our local services. And the figures speak for themselves in terms of the positive impact recycling has on the environment.
“Of course that also means donors can then replenish their wardrobe with all the great new stock in John Lewis – it’s a win, win situation.”
Barnardo’s Scotland would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who donates and shops in our stores. Money raised in our shops helps fund services which support children and young people in the local community.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
