4. Sorting and recycling

Textile waste is classified into two categories according to its origin:

• new" waste of known composition, produced by the textile and clothing industry at each stage of manufacture (spinning, weaving, finishing, cutting), collected by a professional circuit;

• used textiles of unknown composition, collected mainly from private individuals. 300,000 tonnes a year are recovered from an estimated 600,000 tonnes. Textiles are sorted by hand by charitable organizations, with the help of infrared spectrometry equipment and associated textile databases. Natural materials (cotton, linen, wool) and synthetic materials (polyamides, acrylics, polyesters) are separated.

These new and used textiles are used in thrift shops (33%), industrial wiping, insulation and upholstery, the paper industry...