Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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97. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline the regulatory system for the recycling of used clothes, the role that clothes ‘bring-banks’ play in that system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6794/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Bring banks play a very significant role in Ireland’s textiles separate collection system. Textile banks located around the country are provided and managed by local authorities, the charity sector and a number of private operators. Textile collectors provide a management service for these used textiles to local authorities and charities and hold waste collection permits from the National Waste Collection Permit Office. While some of these textiles are reused in Ireland, the greatest volume is exported for resale in other countries.

Our consumption rate in Ireland of new textiles and a small domestic market for reused textiles means most clothes collected in textile banks are exported for reuse. It is also a fact that by far the largest portion of our used textiles is deposited straight into the general waste bin and ends up being incinerated or landfilled.

In recent months, local authorities and charities have been reporting that the used textile collection system is currently under acute strain due to adverse international trading conditions caused by wars and currency crises. My Department and the local authority sector are monitoring the situation closely to help maintain business continuity.

Under the waste hierarchy, the reuse of materials is preferred over recycling as it protects virgin resources more efficiently and uses less energy. While the industrial recycling of textile materials is a growing area of research and investment, it is estimated that internationally only 1% of textiles are recycled currently.

My Department's Industry Textile Advisory Group, established in 2022, has highlighted issues regarding better regulation of textile banks and made a number of recommendations last year in this regard. These recommendations will shape our first National Policy Statement & Roadmap on Circular Textiles to guide my Department in developing a regulatory framework for post-consumer textiles. A draft statement will open for public consultation in the coming weeks.

An extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles under EU legislation is expected to become mandatory by 2027 and this will fund improved textile collection and management more reliably. My Department has already started the foundational work for an Irish EPR scheme.