POSITIVE COTTON WASTE NEWS
Textile Waste
As we know, recycling textiles is a complicated process due to all the various manufacturing processing in fabrics. Which is why the end life of products are so important.
A study in Australia, in the town of Goondiwindi, Queensland, a trial has been in place over the last 12 months, to see whether cotton textile waste can be disposed of in cotton fields. With local farmers, non-profits, academics, government officials and circular economy specialists working together, their trial has brought some very hopeful results.
Farmer Sam Coulton states “We spread the cotton textile waste a few months before cotton planting in June 2021 and by January and the middle of the season the cotton waste had all but disappeared, even at the rate of 50 tonnes to the hectare,”. He also claims that previously, spreading cotton gin waste across the land has been beneficial to the soil, improving its moisture holding capacity, so it will be interesting to see whether this study reflects this too.
A repeat of this trial will happen this forthcoming cotton season to compare the findings.
Whilst this study is so far proving positive results, scientists state that a lot more research needs to be undertaken, checking the compatibility of soils, and whether dyes and chemicals have any risks.
Though we don't want to get our hopes up too quickly, this study has garnered huge interest, and so, here's hoping more people will get involved to find research that delivers a solution to combatting cotton textile waste.
I like to think this is very exciting news to look forward to!
Source article:
Textile waste "swallowed up" by cotton fields, https://www.ecotextile.com/2022072529641/materials-production-news/textile-waste-swallowed-up-by-cotton-fields.html