How you can Give a Sheet for the planet

Textile waste is an environmental issue of global significance.

Australians are the second-highest consumers of textiles globally, with every Australian purchasing 27kg of new clothing and textiles every year on average, only to dispose of 85% of this in landfill.

Textile waste can’t be recycled through your kerbside council bins, but your chance to recycle your old and worn bedroom, bathroom and kitchen linens is here. Read on to find out how.

Give a Sheet for the planet linen drive

On Saturday 25 May, from 9am to 3pm, our friends at Green Industries SA are hosting Adelaide’s largest ever linen drive – Give a Sheet for the planet.

There will be 8 locations to choose from, run by some of our metropolitan councils, and all South Australian residents are invited to drop off their old, unwanted linens.

What linens can I drop off?

All types of pure and blended polyester and cotton linen can be dropped off at any of the 8 event sites.

Types of linen accepted include:

• bathroom linen – face cloths, hand towels, and bath towels and sheets
• bed linen – bed sheets (flat and fitted), quilt and doona covers, pillowcases and bedspreads
• kitchen linen – tea towels, fabric napkins and tablecloths.

Any linen you drop off must be clean for it to be accepted. Linen that is torn or damaged, and linen that has been used as a paint drop sheet will be accepted – as long as it’s been washed after use.

What types of linen and textiles won’t be accepted?

Items that will not be accepted include:

• clothing and footwear
• doonas and pillows
• mattresses and mattress protectors
• wool blankets
• bathmats with a backing
• microfibre or any kind of dish or cleaning wipes/cloths.

A general rule to follow is ‘no items with fluffy fillings’.

Where can I drop off my linens?

Eight drop-off sites across Adelaide will be open Saturday 25 May, from 9 am to 3 pm.

Adelaide CBD

• City of Adelaide, Torrens Parade Ground
  Victoria Drive, Adelaide, SA, 5000

Adelaide Hills

• Adelaide Hills Council, Southern Works Depot
  32 Scott Creek Road (entry via Kiln Rd), Heathfield

North

• City of Port Adelaide Enfield, CAWRA
  25 Mill Court (entry via Grand Junction Road), Kilburn
• City of Charles Sturt, Beverley Recycling and Waste Centre
  2-6 Toogood Ave, Beverley
• City of Salisbury, The Paddocks Precinct
  Corner of Bridge and Kesters Road (entry via Bridge Rd, Para Hills Bowling Club entrance), Para Hills

South

• City of Onkaparinga, Field Operations Centre
  Lot 10 Railway Rd, Seaford Meadows

East

• City of Burnside, Burnside Civic Centre carpark
  401 Greenhill Rd, Tusmore

West

• West Torrens City Council, Adelaide Waste and Recycling Centre
  181 Morphett Road, North Plympton

Check out this map to find your nearest drop-off point.

What will happen to my linen once it’s been collected?

All collected linen will be taken to Bedford SA to be sorted and decommissioned (meaning all buttons, zips and other non-recyclable items are removed).

Next, the linens will be shredded, and then transported to BlockTexx’s state-of-the-art facility in Loganholme, Queensland for recycling.

During the recycling process, the linen will be broken down into new high-grade recycled materials that can be used by Australian manufacturers to create a range of new products used in construction and agriculture.

To learn more about the Give a Sheet linen drive, visit the Green Industries SA website, or call 1300 137 118.