The management of unwanted clothing and footwear is beginning to change significantly in Zaragoza. The city has become a testing ground for a pilot project, similar to another textile recycling and social and employment inclusion project , which aims to demonstrate that it is possible to recover much more textiles with an organized, traceable system designed to meet future, more stringent national regulations.
This trial, promoted by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) , is based on collaboration between the Zaragoza City Council, the joint venture A Todo Trapo-A Ropa2, and the SCRAP RE-VISTE, in line with European alliances . The initiative positions the Aragonese capital as the largest city in Spain to test a comprehensive model for the collection, reuse, and recycling of textiles and footwear.
Body of the news
The agreement signed between the Zaragoza City Council and the managing entities establishes a pilot project for the management and collection of textiles and footwear , which will also be implemented in five other smaller Spanish towns. The objective is to test, in very different urban environments, how a collaborative model works that allows textiles to be given a second life, either through direct reuse or through industrial recycling processes, as outlined in new initiatives for textile recycling.
The Aragonese capital thus becomes the most populated Spanish city participating in this experience , which allows observation of the system's behavior in a complex context: more inhabitants, more waste generated, and an already consolidated network of containers that is now being expanded and adapted to new demands.
The project aims to go beyond simply depositing clothes in good condition in the classic red bin. It seeks to make better use of all textile waste , including worn-out garments, sheets, towels, and other fabrics that until now have not been collected separately. These materials can then be diverted to material recycling processes or other uses, including industrial applications such as chemical recycling.
Furthermore, the initiative seeks to reinforce responsible consumption habits and environmental awareness among citizens, connecting with the future of regenerative fashion , integrating textile management into the logic of the circular economy that is already applied to other fractions such as glass, packaging, or paper and cardboard.
The City Council emphasizes that this pilot project aims to be an intermediate step between the current situation, based on voluntariness and the social component, and the scenario that will be set by state regulations, where producers and citizens will have clearer obligations in the management of this type of waste, in line with the objectives of reuse and recycling.
More red bins and changes to what can be deposited
The most visible aspect of the agreement will be the installation of 30 new containers for the selective collection of used textiles and footwear in the South, Torrero, and Delicias districts. These collection points will be added to the 49 already existing in these same areas, meaning the system will reach almost 150.000 residents of these neighborhoods.
In total, Zaragoza now has 376 red containers distributed throughout the city , managed by the joint venture A Todo Trapo-A Ropa2. This expansion not only increases collection capacity but also serves to test how residents respond when provided with more drop-off points closer to their homes.
One of the key changes in the pilot project is the message being conveyed to households: the containers will no longer be reserved exclusively for clothing and footwear in good condition . From now on, residents are encouraged to also deposit textiles that can no longer be reused directly, such as worn sheets, old towels, or torn garments, which will be sent primarily for recycling.
To facilitate this transition, the signage and informational messages on the containers will be adapted , with clear instructions on what can and cannot be placed inside. This updated communication is essential to prevent separation errors and improve the quality of the collected waste.
The project goes beyond simply placing more containers; it involves using data to evaluate the additional volume of textiles recovered, the portion reused, and the amount recycled. This will provide a detailed picture of the system's effectiveness, which will be invaluable for designing statewide policies.
Anticipating future textile waste regulations
This pilot project is part of a draft state regulation that will, for the first time, specifically govern the management of textile and footwear waste. The legislation, which is based on European guidelines, will introduce obligations for both municipalities and companies in the sector.
Key strategies under consideration include preventing and reducing waste generation by limiting the volume of products placed on the market and discouraging overproduction. The regulations also foresee a ban on destroying unsold surplus clothing and footwear, a practice they aim to eliminate.
Another key element will be the mandatory separate collection of textiles and footwear by local councils, following the same logic already applied to other waste streams. This involves deploying specific infrastructure and management systems capable of guaranteeing the proper treatment of the waste.
The future regulation will incorporate Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) , so that manufacturers and distributors of clothing and footwear must finance and organize, individually or collectively, the collection, sorting and treatment of the waste generated by their products at the end of their useful life.
Within this framework, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes , such as RE-VISTE, play a key role, channeling the sector's collective action to meet legal objectives. The goals set are ambitious: to achieve 50% separate collection by 2030 and 70% by 2035, with 35% prepared for reuse.
An urban laboratory of circular textile economy
The Zaragoza pilot project is conceived as an urban laboratory to test a circular textile management model . The idea is to develop and test a framework for the relationship between public administrations, collection operators, and the RE-VISTE recycling program that can be replicated in other Spanish cities.
The Aragonese capital is considered an ideal setting due to its size, social diversity, and track record in sustainability policies and citizen participation . Smaller municipalities with different sociological realities are also participating, allowing the model to be adapted to a wide variety of contexts.
One of the objectives is to build an efficient, digital and traceable system , capable of tracking textile waste from the moment it is deposited in the container to its final destination, whether it is local reuse, controlled export or industrial recycling.
Traceability is key to building trust: the aim is to ensure that the deposited textiles are managed responsibly, preventing them from ending up in landfills or opaque systems. To achieve this, digital tools are planned to record flows and quantities at each stage of the supply chain.
In addition to the technical aspects, the project pays special attention to environmental education and consumption habits . Information campaigns, talks, and activities will be promoted in schools, youth associations, and neighborhood groups to explain why separating textiles is important and what impact it has in terms of resources and emissions.
Previous experience, employment, and social support
The selective collection of textiles in Zaragoza is managed by a joint venture formed by A Todo Trapo and A Ropa2 , two social enterprises with over twelve years of experience in this field. Since 2019, they have managed the municipal network of containers for used clothing, footwear, and other textiles, under a contract awarded by the City Council.
Each year, the city collects over 2.000 tons of clothing , equivalent to approximately 2,7 kilos per inhabitant. This figure places Zaragoza among the Spanish cities with the best textile collection rates, although it still falls short of the levels seen in some other European countries.
One of the distinctive features of the Zaragoza model is its strong social component . The joint venture's activity currently generates 31 jobs, aimed at people in vulnerable or excluded situations, thus linking environmental protection with social and professional integration.
The collection and sorting system also helps meet the basic clothing needs of low-income families. In the last year alone, 1.396 families referred by municipal social services, Cáritas Diocesana de Zaragoza, and other social organizations in the city have received assistance.
In total, 145.131 garments have been reused locally through retail or social delivery at different points: Moda Re stores in the city, corners in hypermarkets, the aRopa2 space or fairs and markets that combine the distribution of clothing with environmental awareness actions.
Citizen participation and the role of RE-VISTE
The success of the pilot project depends directly on citizen involvement . Without proper source separation and the regular use of the red recycling bins, it is impossible to achieve the triple environmental, social, and economic benefit that is being sought.
For this reason, the managing entities have been carrying out ongoing awareness campaigns for years in schools, youth associations, and neighborhood groups. The goal is to normalize the use of the textile recycling bin, just as is already the case with other waste streams, and to convey that throwing clothes in the general waste bin means wasting resources that could have another life.
Secondhand clothing markets are also becoming established spaces for social interaction and integration , such as the sustainable fashion fair , where anyone can buy clothes, shoes, and accessories on equal terms, regardless of their economic situation. This helps to break down stigmas and see reuse as just another consumption option, not a last resort.
RE-VISTE, the Extended Producer Responsibility Collective System for the textile and footwear sector , plays a key role in this framework . This organization brings together major brands and retail chains operating in Spain, which collaborate to organize and finance the collection, reuse, and recycling of the products they place on the market.
RE-VISTE's management emphasizes that collaboration between institutions, companies, and citizens is essential to building a robust textile recycling system, capable of meeting regulatory requirements and truly reducing the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
With this commitment to textile and footwear recycling, Zaragoza positions itself as a city that anticipates regulatory changes and transforms its red containers into a central element of the circular economy, combining modern waste management, inclusive job creation, and direct support for hundreds of families who find in reuse a dignified way to access clothing.
