Buncrana has been selected as a pilot area for the ‘Donate Don’t Waste’ separate textiles collection pilot as part of Community Resources Network Ireland’s (CRNI) innovation project, ‘Developing a Circular Textile Systems for Ireland’.
It aims to make clothing and home textile donations easier by sharing where and what to donate and to understand attitudes and behaviours around unwanted clothing and home textiles through an online survey.
In Ireland, around 68,000 tonnes of textiles are discarded every year by householders and commercial users. If 15% of discarded textiles were reused, there could be environmental savings of over 100,000 tonnes of carbon.
Christine Costelloe, CRNI’s Circular Research Lead, said: “We are delighted that the Buncrana community is getting involved in the project by taking the survey and donating clothing and home textiles, which positively contribute to environmental, social and economic change.”
Dermot McGilloway, National Retail Development Manager for St. Vincent de Paul, said: “At Vincent’s charity shops, we are an essential link in the circular economy, enabling local donors to pass on pre-loved items for reuse in our local community.
“We are committed to tackling the twin problems of poverty and deprivation on the one hand and the excessive consumption of fast fashion on the other.”
Take the survey on unwanted clothing and home textiles at www.donatebuncrana.ie, respondents could win one of six €50 One4All vouchers.
Donate clean and dry clothing and home textiles at existing collection points, including charity shops, on the map at www.donatebuncrana.ie, and at an additional clothing bank to be established during the pilot.
To get involved, view the map of collection points and latest announcements, visit www.donatebuncrana.ie, contact info@crni.ie or 087 173 5184, follow #DonateDontWaste and @CRNIreland on social media.