Following new national regulations implemented in early 2025,several Polish cities are adapting to a shift in textile waste management,moving away from including these materials in standard mixed recycling [[1]]. Faced with overflowing donation containers and the closure of some collection points, municipalities including Warsaw, Słupsk, Gliwice, and Kielce are rolling out new, localized programs beginning in January 2026 aimed at improving textile recycling rates and reducing landfill waste. These initiatives range from free exchange points accepting a variety of reusable goods to dedicated collection services utilizing purple bags and containers.
Several Polish cities are implementing new strategies to manage textile waste, responding to challenges created by recent regulatory changes and overflowing donation containers. The initiatives, set to roll out beginning in January 2026, aim to reduce landfill waste and promote responsible consumption.
Warsaw will launch nine free clothing and household goods exchange points across six districts – Bielany, Żoliborz, Praga-Północ, Praga-Południe, Śródmieście, and Mokotów. These “dzielnia” locations will accept not only clothing and textiles, but also books, toys, electronics, furniture, plants, and other reusable items, according to city officials.
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The changes come after textiles were removed from mixed waste collection streams in early 2025, requiring residents to take unwanted clothing to designated recycling centers. However, many residents, particularly those without vehicles, found this increasingly difficult, leading to a surge in discarded textiles at used clothing containers and, ultimately, the closure of some donation points, according to a report from money.pl.
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Outside of the capital, Słupsk is preparing to introduce separate collection of used clothing, similar to existing programs for glass and plastic. Mayor Krystyna Danilecka-Wojewódzka announced that the new service will likely result in increased waste management fees. Collection trucks will visit residential buildings monthly and single-family homes quarterly.
Gliwice will also begin a separate textile collection program in January 2026, providing residents of single-family homes with purple bags for monthly pickup on a “bag-for-bag” basis. Apartment buildings will have purple containers emptied every two weeks, in coordination with property managers.
Kielce plans to distribute purple bags to households, cooperatives, and housing associations starting in January. Residents will simply fill the bags and place them in designated trash areas for collection on a scheduled day. “The collection schedule will be directly communicated to residents and published on kielce.eu,” said Deputy Mayor Aneta Boroń. “This is a response to the needs of residents and requests from cooperative and community managers. We want to create a system that is convenient and safe.” The city has already been piloting a textile collection service using a specialized vehicle since October.
The move underscores the growing need for innovative waste management solutions as municipalities grapple with changing regulations and increased environmental concerns.
Bartłomiej Chudy, journalist and publisher at money.pl
