Recycle Your Textiles

Ensure your unwanted items have a second life through our unique reuse and recycling model and help close the loop on textile waste.

How it Works

Step 1:

Purchase your recycling.

Start by selecting the amount of your unwanted clothing, linen, shoes, and other textiles you have to recycle. Recycling costs start from $35, which will allow you to send and recycle 10kg of textiles in one box. Our recycling rates are based on weight, however, we also need to know the number of packages as each requires its own label for collection.

Step 2:

Package your clean textiles.

Next, pack all of your unwanted textiles into a cardboard box. We accept (almost) all textiles for reusing, repurposing, and recycling – you can view a complete list of what we accept HERE. Our team sort through all textiles by hand, so we can only accept clean items. If you’re unsure what to pack your items in, watch this helpful VIDEO for suggestions!

Step 3:

Book your collection.

Now you’re ready to give those unwanted textiles a second life! Simply book your AusPost drop-off or collection through the link in your confirmation email. Then print and attach the generated labels to your box(es) and drop them off at your local Australia Post or leave them outside for collection. We’ll handle the rest!

Clothing Recycling Collection

$35.00$70.00

Select the size closest to the box will be packing your clothing into, and select how many boxes you’re looking to have collected.

Please note — we do not send you a box. Please reuse any box you have available.
Package dimensions are only recommendations. Your package does not need to match exactly.
Available in Australia only.

 

SKU: UP-PKU Category:

Additional information

Weight N/A

Why Recycle Your Textiles?

Not only will you free up space in your home, but you’ll also be joining us in the fight against the textile waste crisis. For every 1kg of textiles that avoids landfill, you’ll prevent an average 3-4kg of greenhouse gases from polluting the atmosphere. Not to mention that 100% of the recoverable textiles that come to UPPAREL are reused, repurposed, or recycled within our operational ecosystem – meaning absolutely nothing is sent to landfill.

What Happens To Your Unwanted Textiles?

Everything is reused, repurposed, or recycled within our operational eco-system. We ensure nothing is sent to landfill! Currently, approximately 40% of the items we receive are in new or fit-to-wear condition. These items are hand-sorted by our dedicated team and passed on to our trusted charity partners, like Save The Children, We Are Mobilise, Djirra, and many more! The remaining 60% is either repurposed by local designers and makers, or transformed into our revolutionary material, UPtex! Which is not only entirely recycled, but also completely recyclable at its end of life.

Recycle With Our Partners

Recycle directly with one of our awesome brand partners and be rewarded for doing the right thing!

Not sure how it all works? Read our Reward FAQs here!

LSKD

$20 Dollar Reward

Sussan

$25 Dollar Reward

Brooks Running

$50 Dollar Reward

Kip&Co

$25 Dollar Reward

Target

$20 Dollar Reward

Sportsgirl

$25 Dollar Reward

Macpac

$25 Dollar Reward

The Oodie

$30 Dollar Reward

Boody

$25 Dollar Reward

Ettitude

$25 Dollar Reward

FAQs

What items can you accept?

We accept:

✅ Clothing items (jeans, shirts, coats, etc)

✅ Fabric off-cuts and sewing scraps

✅ Hats

✅ Wireless Bras (incl. bras with their wire removed)

✅ Socks

✅ Shoes

✅ Linen (bedding, blankets, towels, tea towels, etc)

✅ Fabric mattress protectors (not waterproof/plastic)

✅ Fabric couch covers and curtains

✅ Bathers & Swimwear

✅ Wetsuits

We can’t accept:

❌ Duvets/Doonas

❌ Pillows/Cushions

❌ Unwashed items

❌ Underwear (used eg. panties, briefs, unmentionables)

❌ Cloth Nappies

❌ Carpet

❌ Polyurethane (PU) Leather

❌ Polypropylene (PP) Bags

❌ Bags (handbags, duffel bags, etc)

❌ Belts

❌ Soft Toys

❌ Wired Bras

Can I get a reward when I recycle?

Yes! However, you’ll need to purchase directly through a partner’s reward page if you’d like to receive a reward.

 

You cannot select a reward after purchasing a clothing collection. You must choose a reward and purchase your collection through that brand’s specific reward page. This ensures that we can issue you with your desired coupon immediately!

 

Still unsure of how the Recycle and Reward program works?
Please read our full Reward FAQs here!

Do you accept damaged items?

Yes! We can accept items in any condition whether that be brand new or heavily worn with rips, stains, and holes.

The only requirement is that they’re clean — so we recommend popping everything through a quick wash before packaging for collection.

How is my collection organised?

When you’ve got your textiles boxed and ready to be collected, simply click the “Book Your Collection” button in your confirmation email to visit your unique booking portal. From there, you’ll have two options: pick-up from your door or drop-off at your local post office. Select whichever is most convenient for you and fill in the details of your collection.

 

Once submitted, you’ll be emailed the generated labels to print and attach to your box(es).

 

If you selected pick-up, print and attach your labels and leave your box(es) out in an accessible location for our third-party courier partners to collect.

 

If you selected drop-off, print and attach your labels and take your box(es) to your local post office. We’ll take care of the rest!

What happens if my box isn't collected?

If your box is not collected on the scheduled collection date, your booking will be automatically re-scheduled for the following business day.

 

If your package(s) remain uncollected for consecutive business days, please contact us and our friendly team will be able to investigate the situation for you as soon as possible — hello@upparel.com.au

How should I package my items?
To reduce waste and emissions we don’t send you anything to collect your items in. Your textiles can be packaged into ANY type of box (no larger than carry-on luggage) — a food delivery box, grocery box or moving box would work! You can also pack your items into a durable bag or satchel. As a reference, the package should be approximately 46cm x 41cm x 42cm, however, it doesn’t have to be these dimensions exactly! Please note: The courier cannot collect garbage bags. Check out our suggested packaging video below for ideas!
Can I drop my items off at UPPAREL?

Unfortunately not. We don’t currently have the resources, infrastructure or team to manage drop-offs from the public at our facility.

However, we have partnered up with a number of brands across Australia to offer an in-store textile recycling solution at select locations! You can view all active locations HERE.

Additionally, after purchasing a clothing recycling collection you can now opt to drop your package(s) at your local post office whenever is convenient, rather than waiting for a courier collection. You can organise a clothing recycling collection HERE.

What do you do with my unwanted textiles?

Everything is reused, repurposed, or recycled within our operational eco-system. We ensure nothing is sent to landfill! Currently, approximately 60% of the items we receive are in new or fit-to-wear condition. These items are hand-sorted by our dedicated team and passed on to our trusted charity partners, like Save The Children, We Are Mobilise, Djirra, and many more!

The remaining 40% is either repurposed by local designers and makers or transformed into our revolutionary material, UPtex! Which is not only entirely recycled but also completely recyclable at its end of life.

What happens to the shoes you receive?

Environmentally it is best to reuse items wherever possible, so we’ll always try to reuse or repair shoes if we can! If we cannot reuse them then their materials can be of use in many ways — rubber can be shredded and developed into new products or rubberised athletic tracks and playground surfaces. Their soles can also be used to create soles for fresh shoes!

How do you recycle the textiles you receive?

Once the textiles are sorted and assessed as suitable for recycling the items are decommissioned, removing all hardware such as zips and buttons. The textiles are then broken down through an industrial tearing process to create a fine fluffy fibre. This unique recycled fibre can then be used to create our revolutionary material, UPtex, which can be used for packaging, signage, homewares, and more. Check out this video for a closer look!

How do I know if you collect from my address?

We offer clothing recycling collections Australia-wide! Customers will be provided with a link through the collection confirmation email to schedule their collection for a date that suits them best.

Please note — couriers do not collect on weekends. If you live in an apartment building and do not have a safe place to leave your items, we suggest opting to drop off your items at your local post office. This option is selected at the time of scheduling your collection, not purchasing.

Why does it cost $35?

Great question! The recycling fee helps to contribute towards a number of the costs involved in operating a textile recycling initiative. There are the costs associated in transporting and storing items, separating them, sorting them based on their second life use and preparing new or fit-for-wear items to be distributed to our epic Australian partners; Save The Children, Sacred Heart Mission, Ready Set Australia, St Kilda Mums and Good360 Australia! Not to mention the expenses involved with our specialised recycling process.

 

These costs add up quickly, which may be the reason so few retailers are engaging in on-shore textile recycling initiatives. As an independent business without any government funding, the $35 collection fee is really important in contributing towards these costs and supporting our mission as a small Australian start-up to keep textiles out of landfill and create a circular life cycle for the products we manufacture.

Where can I purchase your recycled product?

At the moment, we’re focused on bringing our recycled product to our commercial partners first. We’ve found an increasing amount of interest from a number of industries looking to utilise our recycled materials such as construction, furniture, fashion, and more! We’d love to bring our recycled product to the public market in the future, however, our current objective is to provide it on a commercial level.

 

If you’re a business looking to enquire about UPtex, you can submit your expression of interest HERE.

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