Give Unwanted Clothes a Second Life Instead of Guessing Which Bin to Use
Reusable clothes in Ireland should normally go to a charity shop, clothing bank or other approved textile donation point. Civic amenity sites also accept clothes and household textiles, while damaged or badly soiled items need a different decision.
Use this guide to find a nearby drop-off, decide whether your clothes are suitable for donation, prepare bags correctly and avoid leaving textiles beside a full bank or closed charity shop.
Where Can You Recycle or Donate Clothes in Ireland?
The quickest national route is the MyWaste Textiles Reuse and Recycling Map. It lets you find charity shops, clothes banks and civic amenity sites near your town or county and check the type of donation point before travelling.
For reusable clothes, donation should normally come before material recycling. Clean, dry clothing that someone else can wear has more value as clothing than as fibre or rags.
Wearable clothes
Use a charity shop, charity-linked clothing bank, reuse service or another verified donation point.
Household textiles
Clean towels, sheets and other accepted household textiles can use textile banks, charity routes or civic amenity sites.
Badly damaged textiles
Check whether your nearest textile bank accepts rags. If not, MyWaste advises that unusable badly soiled, ripped or torn material may need general waste.
Do not put a bag beside a full clothing bank. MyWaste says bags left outside a bank can be treated as illegal dumping and may be damaged before they can ever be reused.
Should You Donate, Recycle or Dispose of the Clothes?
Condition determines the route. A charity donation should be something another person could realistically use, rather than a way of passing disposal costs to the charity.
| Condition | Best first route | Examples | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good / wearable | Charity shop or clothing bank | Clean coats, jeans, tops, dresses, children’s clothes, sportswear. | Do not throw wearable items into general waste. |
| Clean footwear | Donate as a matched pair | Shoes, boots and trainers in reusable condition. | Do not send one loose shoe. |
| Reusable textiles | Textile bank / accepted charity route | Clean towels and sheets. | Check destination rules for bulky bedding. |
| Worn or torn | Check a bank that accepts rags | Old fabric or clothing no longer wearable. | Do not assume every charity wants unusable material. |
| Badly soiled | General waste if no suitable textile route accepts it | Heavily contaminated or badly damaged textiles. | Do not place contaminated material in a donation bag. |
Simple test: if you would not feel comfortable giving the item directly to another person to wear or use, do not automatically label it a charity donation.
Four Main Clothes Recycling and Donation Routes
1. Charity shop
Best for clean, good-quality clothing that can be sold for reuse. Charity Retail Ireland says all member charity shops accept donations in-store, although individual shops can temporarily stop taking donations if storage is full.
Find a charity shop2. Clothing or textile bank
Useful when you want a convenient drop-off without relying on shop opening hours. Check who operates the bank and which items are accepted before placing your bag inside.
Use the national textiles map3. Civic amenity or recycling centre
MyWaste says civic amenity sites across Ireland accept clothes and household textiles. This can be especially convenient when you are already bringing glass, WEEE, cardboard or another household recycling stream.
Find an Ireland recycling centre4. Retailer textile take-back
Some clothing retailers operate their own collection boxes. For example, H&M Ireland currently accepts clean pre-loved clothing and textiles from any brand at participating stores for sorting into reuse and recycling routes.
Check H&M garment collectingHow to Use a Clothing Bank Properly
Clothing banks are commonly found at shopping areas, community locations, sports grounds, bring-bank sites and civic amenity centres. Some are operated by charities; others are commercial textile collectors or commercial operators working with a charity partner.
Read the bank label first
Check who operates the bank and exactly what it accepts. Some take clothing, paired shoes and household textiles, while others have narrower rules.
Use smaller bags
MyWaste recommends shopping-size bags rather than oversized bin liners because clothing-bank openings can be relatively small.
Put everything inside
Never leave bags on top of or beside a bank, even if it is full. Use another donation point or report the full bank.
Check who benefits
If supporting a particular charity matters to you, look for a bank directly operated by that charity or confirm the relationship shown on the bank.
Charity Retail Ireland member banks: its current guidance names Enable Ireland, Liberty Recycling, Oxfam Ireland and the Society of St Vincent de Paul among members operating clothing-bank networks.
What Clothes Can You Donate to Charity Shops?
Charity Retail Ireland says most charity shops accept men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, footwear and household textiles, although individual shops decide what they can handle at a particular time.
Usually suitable
- Clean adult clothing
- Children’s and baby clothing
- Coats and jackets
- Trousers and jeans
- Tops, shirts and knitwear
- Dresses and skirts
- Sports and gym wear
- Hats, scarves, belts and bags
- Reusable paired shoes
- Accepted clean household textiles
Ask before donating
- Very worn clothing
- Ripped items intended only for textile recycling
- Underwear
- Specialist workwear
- Large quantities from a house clear-out
- Unusual household textiles
Some shops sell unsaleable clothing to textile recyclers, but that does not mean every shop wants bags of damaged clothing. Phone first.
Do not leave donations outside a closed charity shop. Rain and street exposure can ruin otherwise reusable clothes, and unattended bags can become a litter or obstruction problem.
Underwear, Shoes, Towels, Sheets, Duvets and Pillows
| Item | National guidance | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Shoes | Can be donated if reusable. | Pair them and tie laces together where possible. |
| Towels | Included in MyWaste’s donation guidance. | Clean, fully dry and bagged. |
| Sheets | Included in MyWaste’s donation guidance. | Clean, dry, folded and bagged. |
| Clean reusable underwear | MyWaste says some lightly used clean items such as bras, vests and children’s underwear can be reused. | Only donate in genuinely good, hygienic condition. |
| Heavily worn / stained underwear | Not suitable for donation | Use general waste if no appropriate textile recycling route accepts it. |
| Pillows | Do not donate to ordinary charity routes | MyWaste directs these to general waste because of hygiene concerns. |
| Duvets | Do not donate to ordinary charity routes | MyWaste directs these to general waste because of hygiene concerns. |
Can You Bring Clothes to a Recycling Centre?
Yes. Ireland’s national textiles campaign states that civic amenity sites accept clothes and household textiles, normally through dedicated collection containers.
This is useful if you do not have a convenient charity shop or clothing bank, or if you are already making a recycling-centre trip for another accepted material.
Before travelling
- Check the centre’s opening hours.
- Confirm textiles are available at that facility.
- Keep textile bags separate from general waste.
- Keep everything clean and dry.
Find a centre
Use our Ireland Recycling Centre guide for council facilities, or use the MyWaste textiles map when clothes are the only item you need to drop off.
You can also use our Recycling Near Me Ireland guide to choose between a civic amenity site, bring bank and specialist drop-off.
Can You Recycle Clothes at a Shop?
Some fashion retailers offer textile collection boxes independently of charity shops. These schemes are useful for clothes or textiles that fit the retailer’s current acceptance conditions.
H&M garment collecting
H&M Ireland currently states that customers can bring clean pre-loved clothing or textiles from any brand to its stores and place them in the dedicated garment-collection box.
The company says collected textiles are sorted for routes that can include second-hand resale, repurposing and recycling. A small proportion may ultimately be disposed of if no suitable reuse or recycling route exists.
Check H&M Ireland’s current garment-collection rulesRetail schemes can change. Check the current Irish retailer page and participating store before making a special trip. Do not assume every fashion chain operates a nationwide take-back programme.
What Should You Do With Ripped or Damaged Clothes?
This is where “clothes recycling” becomes less straightforward. National guidance prioritises reuse, but a badly torn, heavily stained or contaminated garment is not automatically suitable for a charity donation.
Repair first if practical
A missing button, small seam tear or simple zip problem may be repairable, keeping the garment in use for longer.
Check your textile bank
MyWaste says some textile banks accept rags while others do not. Read the bank label or check its listing rather than guessing.
Ask a charity shop before bringing recycling-only clothes
Some charity shops can pass unsaleable textiles to textile operators, but shops differ in what they can accept.
Use general waste only when necessary
If the material is badly soiled, badly damaged and no textile recycling route accepts it, MyWaste’s current guidance allows it to go in the general waste bin.
Do not contaminate a donation load. Wet, oily, mouldy or heavily dirty fabrics can damage otherwise usable clothing packed with them.
How to Prepare Clothes for Donation or Textile Recycling
Sort by condition
Separate reusable clothing from damaged textiles before filling bags.
Make sure everything is clean and dry
Moisture can create mould and ruin textiles during storage and transport.
Fold or roll items
MyWaste recommends folding or rolling clothes to protect them and make the bag easier to handle.
Pair shoes, socks and gloves
Tie shoe laces together or securely pair smaller matching items so they are less likely to become separated during sorting.
Use manageable bags
Shopping bags are easier to place through textile-bank openings than oversized bin liners.
School Uniforms, Children’s Clothes and Good-Quality Items
Clothes that still have useful life do not need to enter a recycling stream immediately. MyWaste specifically recommends checking whether a school operates a uniform swap or reuse system.
School uniforms
Ask the school or parent association about uniform exchanges before donating elsewhere. This can keep the clothing in direct local reuse.
Good children’s clothes
Charity shops, family/community reuse networks and verified clothing banks are all practical options when the items remain clean and wearable.
What If the Clothing Bank Is Full?
Take the bag away rather than stacking it beside the container. MyWaste’s textile map lets you search for another nearby donation point.
Do this
- Try another textile bank.
- Use a nearby charity shop.
- Check a civic amenity site.
- Call the number printed on the bank.
- Report the issue through the MyWaste map where available.
Do not do this
Do not leave bags on the ground, beside a bin or behind the bank. Rain can make the material unusable and local authorities may treat the bags as illegally dumped waste.
How to Check a Door-to-Door Clothing Collection
Not every clothes-collection leaflet represents a charity. Charity Retail Ireland warns households to check who actually operates a collection and who benefits from donated clothing.
Its current member information names Barnardos, Enable Ireland, Irish Cancer Society, Oxfam Ireland, Society of St Vincent de Paul and the Simon Community among member charities that run some organised door-to-door clothes collections.
If the leaflet is unclear, do not rely on the charity logo alone. Contact the charity directly or check Charity Retail Ireland before leaving clothing outside your home.
Check Charity Retail Ireland’s guidance on clothing collections.
What Happens to Donated Clothes?
There is no single destination for every bag. Wearable items may be sold through charity shops or second-hand markets. Other textiles can be passed to textile operators for reuse abroad, repurposing or material recycling.
Ireland’s April 2026 national textiles policy campaign says the country generates more than 110,000 tonnes of post-consumer textiles each year. The policy direction prioritises longer use, repair, reuse, separate collection and better recycling rather than treating clothing as ordinary rubbish.
Reuse usually comes first. Recycling fibres is useful, but keeping a wearable jumper, coat or pair of jeans in use generally preserves more of the value already invested in making the item.
Clothes Recycling Ireland FAQ
Where can I recycle clothes near me in Ireland?
Use the MyWaste Textiles Reuse and Recycling Map. It lists clothing banks, charity shops and civic amenity sites and lets you search by location or county.
Can clothes go in the household recycling bin?
No. Clothing and household textiles should use a textile collection route such as a clothes bank, charity shop or civic amenity site rather than the normal household packaging recycling bin.
Can I put clothes in a clothing bank?
Yes, provided the bank accepts them. Reusable clothes should be clean and dry, folded or rolled and placed inside a manageable bag before being put fully inside the bank.
Can I donate ripped clothes?
Badly ripped or torn clothing is not suitable for normal reuse donation. Some textile banks and charity shops can handle recycling-only material, but you should check first. If no suitable route accepts the item, MyWaste says unusable textiles may go in general waste.
Can I recycle old shoes?
Reusable shoes can be donated. Keep them as a pair and tie laces together where possible so they do not become separated during transport or sorting.
Can underwear be donated?
MyWaste says clean, lightly used good-quality underwear such as bras, vests and children’s underwear can have a reuse route. Stained, damaged or heavily worn underwear should not be donated.
Can I donate duvets and pillows?
MyWaste and Charity Retail Ireland say pillows and duvets are normally unsuitable for charity-shop donation because of hygiene considerations. Check local specialist options if available; otherwise national guidance directs these items to general waste.
Do recycling centres accept clothes?
Yes. Ireland’s national textiles guidance says civic amenity sites accept clothes and household textiles, normally through designated textile containers.
Can I leave clothes beside a full textile bank?
No. Take the bag away and find another donation point. MyWaste warns that bags left beside a full bank can be treated as illegal dumping and may become unusable.
Can I leave clothes outside a charity shop?
No. Wait until the shop is open or use another approved donation point. Bags left outside can become wet, damaged or create a street obstruction.
Does H&M recycle clothes in Ireland?
H&M Ireland currently operates a garment-collection service that accepts clean pre-loved clothing and textiles from any brand at its stores. Check the current Irish H&M page before travelling.
Are clothes recycling banks free to use?
Normal public clothing banks are generally used as free drop-off points for accepted textiles. Always read the operator’s label because acceptance rules and the organisation benefiting from the donation can differ.
Sources Checked for This Clothes Recycling Guide
The national preparation, condition and disposal rules were checked against Ireland’s official MyWaste textiles campaign and current Government textile policy. Charity-shop and clothing-bank guidance was cross-checked with Charity Retail Ireland and individual charity information.
- MyWaste — Clothing and Textiles Campaign
- MyWaste — Clothing and Textiles FAQ
- MyWaste — Textiles Reuse and Recycling Map
- MyWaste — Rags and Damaged Textiles
- Charity Retail Ireland — How to Donate
- Charity Retail Ireland — Donation Banks
- Enable Ireland — Donation Banks
- Government of Ireland — 2026 Circular Textiles Campaign
- H&M Ireland — Garment Collecting
Best Next Step for Your Unwanted Clothes
If the clothes are still wearable, keep them in reuse: choose a charity shop or verified clothing bank. If they are worn out, check whether a nearby textile bank accepts rags before putting them in general waste.
Whatever route you use, make the items clean, dry, folded or rolled and securely bagged. If a bank is full or a shop is closed, take the donation home and use another approved point rather than leaving it outside.
Start with the official MyWaste Textiles Map to find a current drop-off near you.
Independent information guide: RecyclingCentreIreland.org does not operate charity shops, clothing banks or textile-recycling services.