Published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in 2025, this study analyses post-consumer textile (PCT) waste across Italy, the Czech Republic, and Romania countries previously underrepresented in textile waste research. Covering waste collected between November 2023 and June 2024, the report assesses the composition, reusability, and recyclability of textile waste streams. It provides critical data to support the implementation of the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, contributing directly to upcoming EU-wide textile waste management policies.

Key Findings

• High recyclability potential: 
  More than 65% of PCT waste was found to be technically recyclable through mechanical or chemical processes, predominantly consisting of fibre blends and cotton-rich materials.
• Textiles in mixed waste streams: 
  Textiles represent an average of 7.1% of mixed municipal waste, with Romania recording the highest proportion (up to 14%), highlighting persistent inefficiencies in separate collection.
• Reuse dynamics and market value: 
  Approximately 40% of textiles collected for re-use are re-worn within the EU, while 22-23% are reused outside the EU. Around 75% of exported textiles were found to be defect-free. The report shows that textiles sorted for reuse generate significantly higher value (up to €8/kg) compared to those processed for recycling (€0.1-0.4/kg), making closed-loop recycling less economically attractive without incentives.

Country insights:

• Italy: Collects about 15-20% of textile waste separately, supported by strong domestic sorting infrastructure. The country is preparing a national EPR scheme for textiles.
• Czech Republic: Produces roughly 78,000 tonnes of textile waste per year, with only 15% separately collected. Mandatory collection rules are expected from 2025.
• Romania: Has the lowest recycling rates among the three, with nearly 80% of textiles still disposed of in mixed waste. Recent EU-funded projects launched in 2024 aim to enhance local recycling capacity.

The findings support the EU’s objective to achieve separate textile waste collection across all Member States by 2025, highlighting gaps in sorting capacity, citizen participation, and infrastructure. The JRC calls for coordinated policy alignment and investment estimated at €6-7 billion by 2030 to scale textile recycling infrastructure. The study also urges harmonised Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems, stronger economic incentives for recycling, and the deployment of advanced fibre-sorting and disruptor-removal technologies. Strengthening cross-country collaboration on data collection, sorting standards, and waste reporting is viewed as essential to building an efficient and competitive EU textile circularity model.

For full details, access the original publication here.