Find the Right Place for Unwanted Clothes Near You in Ireland
For clean, reusable clothes, the nearest useful option may be a charity shop, clothing bank or local-authority textile point rather than a general recycling centre. MyWaste’s national textiles map is the best starting point because it brings several types of drop-off location into one search.
Keep clothing and household textiles clean, dry and bagged before donating. If a bank is full or a charity shop is closed, take the bag home and use another listed location instead of leaving it outside.
Local textile-bank locations can change, so use the live MyWaste map rather than relying on an old nationwide list.
Quick answer: where can I recycle clothes near me?
Open the official MyWaste Textiles Reuse & Recycling Map, search your town or county, then choose a nearby charity shop, clothing bank or civic amenity site.
Open the individual map pin before travelling. MyWaste says listings can include the location, address, opening hours, accepted items and direct directions.
Before putting clothes in a bank
Clothes and suitable household textiles should be clean and dry. Fold or roll them, place them in a bag and put the entire bag inside the bank.
Use smaller shopping-size bags where possible because clothing-bank openings may not take very large bin liners.
How to Find Clothes Recycling Near You in Ireland
MyWaste’s Textiles Reuse & Recycling Map is designed specifically for this task. It maps charity shops, clothing banks, local-authority clothing banks and civic amenity sites that take clothes or household textiles.
Open the textiles map
Use the official MyWaste textile locator rather than a general web map when you want a current clothing-specific route.
Search your town or county
Enter a local place name and zoom into the area you can realistically travel to.
Filter the results
Use the available county and accepted-item filters to narrow the map to the type of donation or textile point you need.
Open the individual pin
Check whether it is a charity shop, clothing bank or civic amenity site, then review the available address, hours and accepted-item information.
Check before making a special trip
For charity shops or staffed recycling facilities, check the current opening hours and whether donations are being accepted before setting off with several bags.
Clothing Bank, Charity Shop or Recycling Centre?
The best destination depends less on the word “recycling” and more on the condition of the clothes and the type of collection point available near you.
Good for clean, wearable clothes and shoes that can potentially be sold again. Contact the shop first if you have a large donation.
Useful when a local bank accepts your clothing and textile types. Keep everything clean, dry and inside a closed bag.
Some local-authority recycling centres have dedicated textile collection. Check the exact site because services differ by county and facility.
Bring bank does not automatically mean clothes bank. Some bring-bank locations collect only glass or cans. Confirm that the exact site has a textile container before travelling.
What Clothes and Textiles Can Usually Be Donated?
MyWaste’s national textile guidance identifies clothing, paired footwear, towels and sheets as donation items. Its broader post-consumer textile categories also include many normal wearable and household textile products.
| Item | General route | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Coats & jackets | Good donation item | Clean, dry and bagged. |
| Shirts, tops & jumpers | Good donation item | Fold or roll before bagging. |
| Trousers & jeans | Good donation item | Dry and reasonably wearable. |
| Dresses & skirts | Good donation item | Bag clean items together. |
| Baby & children’s clothes | Good donation item | Check for stains or heavy damage. |
| Sports & gym wear | Good donation item | Wash and dry first. |
| Shoes, boots & trainers | Donate in pairs | Tie or bag the pair together. |
| Bed sheets | Usually suitable | Clean, dry and folded. |
| Towels | Usually suitable | Dry completely before bagging. |
| Curtains | Check destination | Some textile routes accept them; confirm the exact point. |
Reuse first: if the clothes are in good wearable condition, a charity-shop or direct reuse route can keep them in use before material recycling is considered.
Clothes and Textiles That Should Not Go Into a Donation Bank
Donation banks are not a substitute for the general waste bin. MyWaste says badly soiled, ripped or torn clothing and shoes that are no longer reusable should be disposed of as general waste.
Normally unsuitable for donation
- Badly soiled clothing
- Heavily stained clothing
- Badly ripped or torn garments
- Very heavily worn shoes
- Wet or mouldy textiles
Hygiene-sensitive items
- Pillows
- Duvets
- Dirty bedding
- Items contaminated with liquids or waste
Do not use a clothing bank for rubbish. Wet, dirty or unusable textiles can damage otherwise reusable donations and create disposal costs for charities and textile operators.
How to Prepare Clothes for a Clothing Bank or Charity Shop
Check the condition
Separate wearable, reusable clothing from badly damaged or heavily soiled material.
Wash when needed
Donations should be clean. Do not put damp clothing straight into a bag after washing.
Dry everything completely
Moisture can lead to odours, mildew and damage to other donations in the bank.
Pair footwear
Keep shoes and boots together so the pair remains useful after collection and sorting.
Fold or roll and bag
MyWaste recommends neatly bagging textiles. Smaller shopping bags are often easier to fit through clothing-bank openings than large bin liners.
What to Do If the Clothes Bank Near You Is Full
Do not put the bag on the ground or pile it beside the container. MyWaste warns that leaving textiles beside a full bank is considered illegal dumping and the intended donations may end up being treated as waste.
Use the MyWaste textile map to look for another clothing bank, charity shop or civic amenity site nearby.
Use contact information on the container, contact the local authority or use the reporting option shown through MyWaste.
Keep it dry until the bank has been emptied rather than risking damage outdoors.
Where Should Your Particular Clothes Go?
The clothes are clean and still wearable
Start with a charity shop, charity clothing bank or another reuse-focused textile point. Keeping clothing in use generally preserves more value than treating it immediately as waste.
The clothes are clean but old-fashioned or unlikely to sell
A clothing bank may still be appropriate because collected textiles are sorted after donation. If using a charity shop, contact it first if you are unsure whether the shop accepts lower-value textile items.
The clothes are ripped or worn
Some charity shops can send unsaleable clothing to textile operators, but this is not universal. Charity Retail Ireland advises contacting the local shop first. If the item is badly damaged and no longer reusable, follow MyWaste’s current disposal guidance.
The clothes are wet or mouldy
Do not put them into a clothing bank. Wet textiles can spoil other donations and should not be presented as reusable clothing.
I have school uniforms
MyWaste recommends checking with the school to see whether uniforms can be swapped or reused before using another textile route.
I have bras or underwear
MyWaste says good-quality, lightly used and clean underwear can sometimes be reused, particularly bras, vests and children’s underwear. Stained, damaged or heavily worn items should not be donated.
Using a Charity Shop Instead of a Clothes Bank
Charity Retail Ireland says its member shops accept clothing donations in-store. Most also accept footwear and suitable household textiles, although individual shops can temporarily stop taking donations when storage is full.
For a larger clear-out, contact the shop before loading the car. Clean, unbroken donations are far more useful because damaged goods can create disposal costs for the charity.
Never leave donation bags outside a closed charity shop. Rain can destroy the contents, bags can obstruct the footpath, and items left outside may have to be discarded.
Why You Should Check the Live Map Instead of an Old Clothes-Bank List
Textile services change as councils and collection contractors update their arrangements. A location that had a clothes bank last year may not necessarily have one now.
Tipperary is a useful example: from 1 October 2025, Tipperary County Council removed clothes/textile banks from bottle-bank sites across the county. Free textile collection continued instead at its civic amenity sites in Cashel, Clonmel, Nenagh, Roscrea and Donohill.
Practical rule: do not publish or save a static national list and assume it stays correct. Search the MyWaste textiles map when you are actually ready to donate.
Clothes Do Not Belong in the Household Recycling Bin
Clothing and footwear need a separate reuse or textile route. They are not normal mixed dry recyclables for the household recycling bin.
Clothes Recycling Near Me FAQ
How do I find a clothes recycling bank near me in Ireland?
Use the MyWaste Textiles Reuse & Recycling Map. Search your town or county and open individual pins for clothing banks, charity shops and civic amenity sites.
Can I put old clothes in the green recycling bin?
No. Clothes and textiles need a dedicated textile, reuse or donation route rather than the normal mixed household recycling bin.
Do clothes need to be washed before donating?
They should be clean and dry. Heavily soiled or contaminated items should not be presented as reusable donations.
Should clothes be bagged for a recycling bank?
Yes. MyWaste recommends folding or rolling clean, dry textiles and putting them into a bag. Smaller shopping bags can be easier to place through bank openings.
Can shoes go in clothes recycling banks?
Paired footwear is included in MyWaste’s donation guidance. Keep both shoes together.
Can towels and sheets be donated?
Yes. MyWaste specifically lists towels and sheets among textile donation items, provided they are suitable and clean.
Can duvets and pillows go in clothes banks?
MyWaste says pillows and duvets are not suitable for reuse through this donation route because of hygiene considerations.
What should I do with ripped clothes?
Some charity shops accept unsaleable clothing for textile recycling, but not all do. Contact the shop first. Badly torn or heavily worn clothing that is no longer reusable should follow current MyWaste disposal guidance.
What should I do if a clothing bank is full?
Do not leave the bag beside the bank. Find another location, report the full bank to the operator or local authority, or take the clothes home until space is available.
Are charity shops better than clothes banks for good clothes?
If clothes are clean and wearable, a charity shop is a strong reuse route because the items may be sold again to fund the charity. Clothing banks also collect reusable textiles, but the exact downstream route depends on the operator.
Official and Specialist Sources Checked
The national location and preparation guidance in this article was checked against MyWaste’s current clothing and textile campaign. Charity-shop guidance was checked against Charity Retail Ireland, and a current council example was used to verify that local textile-bank networks can change.
- MyWaste — Textiles Reuse & Recycling Map
- MyWaste — Clothing & Textiles
- MyWaste — Clothing & Textiles FAQs
- Charity Retail Ireland — How to Donate
- Charity Retail Ireland — Donation Banks
Individual clothing banks and charity shops can change their opening hours, capacity and accepted items. Check the live listing before making a special trip.
The Fastest Route for Your Clothes
If the clothes are clean and reusable, bag them and open the MyWaste textiles map. Choose a charity shop, clothing bank or civic amenity site near you, check the individual listing and take the clothes there while the location is accepting donations.
If the bank is full or the shop is closed, take the bag home. Do not leave donations on the ground.
Independent information guide: RecyclingCentreIreland.org does not operate clothing banks, charity shops or the MyWaste textile map.