Importing and exporting waste and non-waste textiles
How to decide if textiles are waste or non-waste, and the controls that apply when importing or exporting them.
Applies to England
This guidance is for businesses exporting or importing waste and non-waste textiles. It explains:
- how to decide if textiles are waste or non-waste
- the controls that apply when you ship them
You should also refer to our guidance on whether your material is waste and waste export and import.
Textiles covered in this guidance
Textiles include materials made from fibres, thread or yarn, such as:
- clothing and footwear
- accessories (for example bags, hats and belts)
- household textiles (for example curtains and bed linen)
- workwear and technical textiles (for example personal protective equipment – PPE)
Items may be wholly or partly textile.
This guidance does not cover:
- mattresses
- furniture and furnishings (including carpets and rugs)
Decide if the textile is waste
Before you export textiles, you must work out whether they are waste. This is because different controls apply depending on how they are classified.
A textile is waste if:
- you discard it
- you intend to discard it
- you are required to discard it
- you cannot use it for its original purpose
Textiles donated to reuse organisations are not waste until the organisation decides they are unsuitable for sale or repair. At that point, they become waste.
You should also treat the following loads as waste:
- mixed loads
- items with visible damage
- non-textile material
Textiles are non-waste only if they are suitable for direct reuse.
If an item cannot be used for its original purpose, even if it could be recycled, it is waste. For example, textiles shredded to make new fabric are waste until the new product is made.
See the Environment Agency’s guidance to check if your material is waste.
Requirements for waste and non-waste textile exports
For all exports, you must:
- sort textiles before export (or hold evidence to show why this isn’t needed)
- remove non-textile material and contamination
- present loads to a clear and consistent specification
- ensure the items meet legal requirements in the destination country
- ensure their use will not harm human health or the environment
You must keep evidence of:
- how you sort and assess quality (for example, standard operating procedures)
- contractual arrangements with the destination, including the standards the items must meet
The Environment Agency may ask you to provide this information.
Exporting non-waste textiles (products)
To meet your legal requirements for exporting textiles as non-waste (products), you must:
- apply the waste hierarchy (that is, prioritising re-use and then recycling by separating reusable items, removing contamination and preparing the material for its intended recovery route)
- meet your duty of care
- ensure exports are lawful
Before you export non-waste textiles, you must:
- sort items by type and quality
- remove damaged items and contamination
- ensure shoes are in matching pairs
If you need to sort textiles to separate waste from reusable items, your site may need an environmental permit or exemption.
Exporting waste textiles
If textiles are waste, you must:
- sort them properly before export
- describe them accurately, including any contamination
- use the correct Basel Convention code
The Environment Agency may ask you to provide details of how the waste was assessed and sorted.
Criteria for sorting textiles
When sorting textiles, you must:
- separate reusable items
- remove non-textile material
- reduce contamination to a minimal level
- prepare the material for its intended recovery route
- show the material meets consistent specification requested by the receiving facility
If contamination is more than minimal, the waste may need notification controls or it may not be allowed for export.
Unsorted or mixed material increases the risk of:
- misdescription
- unsuitable end use
- environmental harm
Requirements for waste and non-waste textile imports
Importers need to comply with regulations in the dispatch country as well as meet the requirements in this guidance.
Classifying waste shipments
If the textiles are waste, you must:
- use the correct Basel Convention code
- accurately describe the waste, including contamination
Textiles waste is usually classified as B3030 – textile wastes, including worn clothing.
To use B3030, the following must apply:
- the waste must be textiles only
- the waste must not be mixed with other wastes
- the waste must be prepared to a specification
Some items may not be suitable for B3030, such as soft toys with plastic parts.
If textiles are mixed with other waste, you must sort them further or they may be subject to notification controls.
Read the waste classification technical guidance for more information.
Check that you are using the correct code and control
To ensure that you are using the correct code and control, you can use:
- the waste export controls tool for exports from England
- the Waste Shipment Regulations: consolidated waste list
These tools are guides only.
Before shipping, you must check the controls with transit and destination countries.
You must also:
- identify and classify waste containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
- manage POPs waste correctly
If you need more information
For more information, you can contact askshipments@environment-agency.gov.uk.