All the textile waste we receive is taken to a textile recycling facility before it is sorted into four grades for clothes recycling:
1) RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel)
This is the lower grade of waste. It includes any PU-backed nylons, PTFEs and leather. This would include items like waterproof coats, trouser belts, safety boots and baseball caps as well as heavily soiled textile waste. These items are compressed into fuel pellets for use in waste to energy.
2) WPF (Waste Processed Fibre)
This higher grade would include items like work trousers, polo shirts, formal shirts, jackets, blazers and pullovers. The best items for this grade need to include a natural fibre element so things like poly-cotton polo shirts and work pants.
3) Fleece Jackets & Polyester clothing
Polyester fibres cannot be processed with the WPF. Instead they are used in the thermal bonding process for some WPF applications.
4) Other
We recommend that all textile waste is kept dry and free from contaminants prior to processing to ensure the best possible results.