Separate textile collection: what councils must do and how to organise it

The obligation for separate textile collection: an inevitable regulatory change

From 1 January 2025, all councils in Spain are required to implement a system of separate textile collection in accordance with Ley 7/2022 de residuos y suelos contaminados. This regulation marks an important milestone in municipal waste management, aligning Spain with European directives on circular economy and sustainability.

For municipal technicians and environmental managers, this obligation entails strategic decisions about how to structure collection, the role of recycling centres and how to guarantee traceability of collected textiles. In this article we analyse what the regulation actually requires and how to organise it efficiently.

What does Ley 7/2022 say about textile waste?

Ley 7/2022 de residuos y suelos contaminados para una economía circular transposes European Directives 2018/851 and 2018/852, introducing significant changes in waste management. One of the most relevant is the mandatory separation of textile waste.

Implementation deadline

Councils had until 31 December 2024 to design and implement systems that guarantee separate textile collection. This means that from 2025 onwards, combined collection with other waste is no longer compliant with the law.

Objectives of the measure

The obligation pursues:

• Reducing the amount of textiles reaching landfills
• Promoting reuse of garments in good condition
• Facilitating recycling of textile fibres
• Improving traceability and extended producer responsibility (EPR)
• Meeting European circular economy objectives

According to MITECO data, Spain generates approximately 1.2 million tonnes of textile waste annually, of which less than 10% is properly recycled. Separation at source is key to improving these figures.

Difference between reusable clothing and textile waste

A common confusion in councils is the definition of what constitutes “textile waste” and what is considered reusable. The law distinguishes both categories clearly:

Reusable clothing and textiles

These are garments or fabrics that, although used, maintain sufficient quality conditions to be:

• Donated to social organisations
• Sold in second-hand markets
• Repaired and reused

These garments are not waste, but goods subject to reuse. Their destination must be different from that of waste.

Textile waste

These are fabrics and garments that:

• Cannot be reused due to their condition (torn, severely damaged)
• Are dirty or contaminated
• Are waste derived from manufacturing processes or recycling centres

These are waste and are subject to the mandatory separate collection obligation.

Models for separate textile collection in the council

The law does not prescribe a single model, but instead leaves flexibility for councils to choose the option best suited to their circumstances. The most common models are:

1. Dedicated container in public spaces

Characteristics:

• Container dedicated solely to textiles, clearly signposted
• Located in medium to high-density areas
• Managed directly by the council or through a contracted company
• Greater visibility and accessibility for citizens

Advantages:

• Easy access for citizens
• Integrated into the urban landscape
• Planned periodic collection

Disadvantages:

• Higher initial investment in containers
• Risk of contamination (rubbish, hazardous items)
• Requires regular maintenance

2. Municipal recycling centre

Characteristics:

• Dedicated area at the recycling centre for textile reception
• Trained municipal staff for separation
• Possibility of pre-classifying as reusable/waste
• Integration with other types of special waste

Advantages:

• Superior quality control
• More precise traceability
• Facilitates coordination with social organisations
• Single space for multiple waste types

Disadvantages:

• Lower accessibility for small volumes
• Requires opening hours
• Depends on citizens’ awareness to visit the recycling centre

3. Collaboration with social organisations

Characteristics:

• Collection points at organisations (NGOs, Cáritas, development organisations)
• Separation at source: reusable vs waste
• Shared management between council and social organisation

Advantages:

• Positive social impact
• Reduces municipal costs
• Maximises reuse
• Aligned with social economy

Disadvantages:

• Lower geographical coverage
• Depends on organisations’ involvement
• Requires administrative coordination

Hybrid model

Many councils opt for a combination of models: containers in public spaces for large volumes, recycling centre for small producers and special waste, and collaboration with social organisations for reusable textiles.

Aspect	Public space container	Recycling centre	Social organisations
Accessibility	Very high	Medium	Medium
Quality control	Low	High	Very high
Initial investment	Medium-high	Medium	Low
Traceability	Medium	Very high	High
Ideal for	General public	Special producers	Social reuse
Expected volume	200–500 kg/month	50–150 kg/month	100–300 kg/month

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles

Another crucial aspect is the extended producer responsibility in preparation for reuse. This means that manufacturers and textile distributors must contribute financially to collection and management systems.

What does this mean for the council?

• Registration of textiles collected in the municipality
• Communication of data to EPR systems
• Coordination with authorised waste managers
• Traceability from collection to final destination (reuse or recycling)

Extended producer responsibility allows part of the management costs to be transferred to producers, reducing the municipal financial burden.

Traceability and textile registration at the recycling centre

One of the pillars of the new regulation is traceability. Councils must be able to demonstrate what quantity of textiles were collected, in what condition (reusable or waste) and where they were sent.

How to register textiles at the recycling centre?

Step 1: Classification at source

Upon receiving textiles, recycling centre staff must separate:

• Reusable clothing and textiles → destination: social organisations or second-hand market
• Textile waste → destination: authorised textile recycling manager

Step 2: Weighing and registration

Each batch must be weighed and registered, indicating:

• Date of receipt
• Quantity in kg
• Classification (reusable/waste)
• Source (household, retail, other)

Step 3: Documentation and traceability

It is essential to maintain:

• Delivery notes to social organisations
• Certificates of delivery to waste managers
• Monthly or quarterly registers
• Reports for the EPR system

Step 4: Data communication

Annually, councils must report to their regional authorities:

• Total tonnes of textiles collected
• Percentage destined for reuse
• Percentage destined for recycling
• Collaborating organisations

Digital tools for separate collection management

Manual traceability is complex and error-prone. That is why more and more councils are implementing specialised recycling centre management software that automates:

• Registration of each type of waste entry
• Weighing integrated with IT systems
• Automatic generation of traceability reports
• Alerts on storage limits
• Data export for regulatory compliance

A digital platform greatly simplifies separate textile collection for councils, especially in medium or large-sized municipalities. It reduces errors, improves traceability and facilitates compliance with legal obligations without overloading municipal staff.

Practical advice for implementing collection

1. Prior assessment

Before choosing a model, analyse:

• Population of the municipality and urban density
• Estimated textile generation (approximately 5–7 kg/inhabitant/year)
• Existing infrastructure (recycling centre, available spaces)
• Potential social collaborators
• Available budget

2. Citizen communication

• Clear campaign on where to deposit textiles
• Visual differentiation: dedicated container, designated area
• Informational materials at recycling centre
• Social media and council website

3. Staff training

• Training on reusable/waste classification
• Weighing and registration procedures
• Health and safety
• Customer service

4. Management of collected waste

• Contract with certified social organisations for reuse
• Find authorised managers for textile fibre recycling
• Establish clear agreements on volume reception
• Request treatment certificates for traceability

Future perspective

Separate textile collection is a new but necessary responsibility. In the coming years, regulations will tend to become stricter, with increasingly ambitious reuse targets and more demanding EPR systems.

Councils that implement robust systems now, with appropriate digital tools, will be better positioned to adapt to future changes and meet circular economy objectives.

If your council is starting the journey towards separate textile collection, we recommend conducting a detailed analysis of your local circumstances and considering technology that facilitates traceability. Specialised software for digital recycling centre management can be the difference between a manual, cumbersome process and an agile, compliant system.

Do you need help designing your separate textile collection system? At TuPuntoLimpio we work with councils across Spain to implement practical and digital solutions. Request a demo with our team and discover how we can simplify the traceability of your textile waste.