Recycling clothes could be rewarded from now on and, beyond what it means for the environment, Brussels is preparing a project in which every citizen who recycles used clothing will receive money for it. The idea is that every time someone leaves their used clothes in a series of special containers capable of automatically analyzing and classifying each textile, they will be paid financially for it.
Until now we had seen how some projects paid to recycle cans, plastics or other elements, but for clothing it is something pioneering, if we don’t count of course Wallapop, Vinted or the platforms that are dedicated to selling second-hand clothing.
The initiative is part of a European project called TexMat, funded by the Horizon Europe programwhich seeks to transform the way used clothing is collected and reused in Europe. The objective is to develop an automated textile collection system that allows reusable garments to be separated from waste at the same moment that the citizen deposits them in the container.
Brussels considers that these types of solutions can help reduce one of the most growing environmental problems in Europe: the increase in textile waste. Every year millions of tons of clothing end up in landfills or incinerated, even though many garments could be reused or recycled.
What is the TexMat project?
The TexMat project is based on the development of automated smart containers that will analyze the clothing deposited by citizens. These systems will use technology capable of evaluating the condition, quality and composition of each textile. Based on this analysis, the system will decide if the garment can be destined for the second-hand market or if it should be sent to recycling processes to recover textile fibers.
In addition to technological development, the project will also design business models and digital tools to connect these systems with reused clothing markets and promote the circular economy in the textile sector.
But if something stands out about this project, it is that citizens will be able to receive economic incentives when they deliver clothes in these containers. The goal is to create a system that rewards textile recycling and facilitates consumer participation.
The amount of money that users could receive has not yet been publicly defined, as it will depend on factors such as the condition of the garment, its composition or its potential for reuse.
An investment of almost 7 million euros
The TexMat project has European funding of more than 6.7 million euros and will be developed between October 2025 and March 2029. All in pursuit of improving the circular economy and reducing to a certain extent the effects of excessive consumerism, which plays a greater role in clothing.
The initiative is coordinated by the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland and brings together 13 organizations from different European countries, including universities, technology companies and entities linked to textile recycling.
Among the participants are several Spanish organizations, such as:
- People for People Foundation
- IRIS Technology Solutions
- Rovimatica
- University of A Coruña
These entities will participate in the development of technology, the analysis of consumer behavior and the creation of new business models linked to textile recycling.
The mandatory collection of textile waste prepared by the EU
The initiative also falls within the European strategy to transform the textile sector and move towards a more sustainable model. In this sense, the European Union is preparing new regulations that will force countries to implement separate collection systems for textile waste, with the aim of improving its reuse and recycling.
In this context, the TexMat project aims to take advantage of this new regulation to create more efficient collection systems with incentives for citizens.
In addition, the project is linked to other tools that the European Union wants to implement in the textile sector, such as the digital product passport or extended producer responsibility systems, which will force companies to take charge of the environmental impact of the garments they put on the market.
A system that could spread throughout Europe
If the results of this pilot project are positive, this smart container model could be implemented more widely in different European countries.
The ultimate goal is to create a decentralized textile collection system that allows citizens to be rewarded for recycling clothing, boost the second-hand market and reduce the amount of textiles that end up in landfills.
With this, Brussels aims to move towards a circular economy in the fashion sector and reduce the environmental impact of an industry that is among the most polluting in the world.