Containers for textile waste collection to appear in Minsk courtyards
In October, the company "Remondis Minsk" will launch a pilot project to install special containers for collecting textile products in Minsk courtyards. The project will be implemented jointly with the Minsk City Housing and Utilities, reports the "Minsk-Novosti" agency.
Photo: "Remondis Minsk"
Similar textile collection was already carried out in Belarus in 2011-2015, but back then, items were placed in containers along with other types of secondary raw materials. As a result, textiles absorbed moisture, became contaminated, and lost the possibility of further processing.
Now, closed containers will be used for textiles, placed separately from ordinary waste collection sites. Their contents will be collected by special machines, not ordinary garbage trucks.
Clean and dry items, обязательно packed in tightly tied plastic bags, can be placed in the containers. This applies not only to clothing but also to bedding, blankets, towels, and other textile items. Footwear can also be handed in, but it must be placed in a separate bag.
After collection, textiles will be sorted manually by type and fabric composition. Items that are in good condition can be transferred for sale as second-hand or to charitable organizations.
Textiles unsuitable for reuse will be processed into rags, which can be used by various enterprises for technical purposes. Part of the raw material is planned to be processed deeper for the production of RDF fuel.
The company notes that ideally, no part of textile waste should end up in landfills.
The first batch of 20 containers is planned to be installed in October in the Maskouski and Frunzenski districts of Minsk. By the end of the year, their number should increase to 50.
"Remondis Minsk" plans to independently organize the entire cycle of textile management — from collection and sorting to processing. The company intends to monitor the project results and take into account residents' feedback. In the future, containers are planned to cover all districts of Minsk, and then expand the project to regional centers and other cities of Belarus.