Give your old textiles a new life in Angelsea recycling trial

Published on 23 September 2026

Surf Coast residents will have a new way to recycle some of their end-of-life textiles, with a two-month trial launching at Anglesea Transfer Station from Thursday 1 October.

Textiles will be sent to Victorian-based Textile Recyclers Group, who will sort and assess suitability for reuse or recycling. Items that can’t be reused will be shredded and turned into products such as car insulation, carpet underlay and boot and bonnet liners.

As part of the trial, 100% cotton t-shirts will be collected separately and sent to the Institute of Frontier Materials at Deakin University for processing through their new circular textile processing capability, to test whether they can be recycled back into new textiles.

The trial will run until 30 November and will give locals an opportunity to recycle worn out clothes and fabric items that are no longer wearable and might otherwise end up in landfill.

It will also help Council understand how many people use the service and how much textile material is collected, to help determine what an ongoing recycling service could look like.

Bringing recycling closer to home

“We know locals are keen to find better ways to deal with unwanted clothing and textiles, so we’re really pleased to be able to test this option at Anglesea,” Cr Liz Pattison said.

“The trial is a chance to give unwanted textiles a new life rather than sending them to landfill, while helping us understand what an ongoing recycling service could look like.”

“Take part and help us understand how much interest there is in textile recycling locally,” she said.

Too worn to wear?

Cr Pattison said people should consider whether their unwanted clothes could be reused before recycling them.

“If your clothes are still in good condition, the best option is to pass them on to someone else, on-sell them, or donate them to an op shop.”

“But if they’re too worn or damaged to be reused, as long as they’re clean and dry, the textile recycling trial at Anglesea gives them another option and helps keep them out of landfill.”

The trial supports Council’s Circular Economy Action Plan, which includes identifying gaps in recycling services and trialling new ways to recover materials that currently go to landfill.

It is also part of Council’s broader work to reduce waste, increase recycling and support a more circular local economy.

Textile recycling trial

Where:                            Anglesea Transfer Station

When:                              1 October to 30 November 2026

Items accepted:             Most clean and dry clothing items, including pants, jackets, hi-vis and workwear, socks, bags, shoes, hats, as well as bed linen, towels, pillows, doonas and fabric offcuts. Items must be loose, not bagged.

Items not accepted:      No wet or mouldy items. No swimwear or underwear, mattresses or mattress protectors, curtains, rugs, furniture, animal bedding or toys.

Commercial quantities will not be accepted.

Find out more: surfcoast.vic.gov.au/Textiles