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Characterisation of Waste Textiles from Mixed MSW and Separate Collection—A Case Study from Vienna, Austria

Author

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  • Pablo Kählig

    (Christian Doppler Laboratory for a Recycling-Based Circular Economy, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Wien, Austria)

  • Wolfgang Ipsmiller

    (Christian Doppler Laboratory for a Recycling-Based Circular Economy, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Wien, Austria)

  • Andreas Bartl

    (Christian Doppler Laboratory for a Recycling-Based Circular Economy, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Wien, Austria)

  • Jakob Lederer

    (Christian Doppler Laboratory for a Recycling-Based Circular Economy, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Wien, Austria)

Abstract

Textile recycling approaches require input material streams of defined purity. Establishing sorting facilities and defining viable sorting fractions for efficient subsequent recycling necessitates knowledge on the composition and material content of the textiles to be processed. Subsequently, this information is crucial for the implementation of a sustainable circular economy for textiles. This study presents the results of a comprehensive waste textile sampling and characterisation along with data on the quantities and composition of waste textiles in Vienna in 2022. The data reveals that only 28% of the 19,975 t of waste textiles generated end up in separate collection, of which a significant amount goes to the international market. However, the results regarding the fibre composition show that textiles from mixed municipal solid waste and separate collection are very similar. Cotton fibres accounted for approx. half of the fibre mass from non-complex textiles, with 9328 t overall (6776 t in the mixed municipal solid waste and 2522 t in separate collection). A further analysis regarding fibre blends found that a total of 6275 t of single-fibre materials and 5132 t of two-fibre materials were present. This reveals great potential for using this waste stream in fibre-to-fibre recycling processes. Collecting accurate data on this waste stream enables sorters and recyclers to tailor their processes to the expected input material. By increasing the amount of recycled materials, the share of incinerated or landfilled textiles will decrease, which in turn will have a positive impact on the environment. However, further research in textile identification and material separation as well as regulations to keep these materials in a sustainable closed loop are required.

Suggested Citation

  • Pablo Kählig & Wolfgang Ipsmiller & Andreas Bartl & Jakob Lederer, 2025. "Characterisation of Waste Textiles from Mixed MSW and Separate Collection—A Case Study from Vienna, Austria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-21, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5484-:d:1678797
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ana Fonseca & Edgar Ramalho & Ana Gouveia & Rita Henriques & Filipa Figueiredo & João Nunes, 2023. "Systematic Insights into a Textile Industry: Reviewing Life Cycle Assessment and Eco-Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-23, October.
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