Polyester recovered from municipal solid waste successfully recycled

Henrik Wene co-founder of Rewin.

At Rewin, we are at the forefront of developing innovative solutions for polyester textile recycling, particularly in the challenging area of post-consumer textiles. Our technology has already demonstrated its effectiveness in recycling polyester from mixed textiles containing various fibers, including complex blends with elastane and anti-static fibers. 

With the European Union having implemented mandatory separate collection of post-consumer textiles as of January 1, 2025, the challenges in achieving high collection rates and effective recycling have become increasingly evident. Despite considerable efforts, countries that have already implemented separate collection have experienced low collection rates, typically around 1-2 kg per person per year. This is in stark contrast to the nearly 15 kg of textiles purchased annually, and the similarly substantial amounts of textile waste generated each year. A significant portion of textile waste ends up in municipal solid waste, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to enhance recycling efficiency.

The Challenge of Textile Waste Management

The EU's push towards a circular economy, especially in the textile sector, is crucial due to the industry's substantial environmental impact. However, the transition is expected to be slow, and current collection methods often result in material mixtures that are difficult to recycle. This is where advanced technologies can play an important role in improving the recycling process.

Post-sorting of municipal solid waste (MSW) before it reaches incinerators, enables recovery of various fractions such as metals, compostable materials, plastics, and textiles. Post sorting is particularly relevant for polyester, which can be recovered in significant quantities together with PET packaging and trays in the sorting process. While clear PET bottles and trays are attractive to recycle mechanically, other mixed materials have traditionally been unfeasible to recycle.

Rewin's Breakthrough in Polyester Recycling

- Rewin's recycling technology has successfully transformed post-sorted municipal solid waste (MSW) into a valuable material, turning an environmental challenge into a business opportunity. Our process has demonstrated the ability to convert post sorted mixtures of polyester-rich garments, multilayer PET packaging, and colored PET trays - materials that are typically incinerated - into pure, white raw material suitable for new polyester production, says Henrik Wene co-founder of Rewin.

Despite the challenges of dealing with wet and moldy materials and other contaminants which are present in municipal waste, our technology enables the recycling of very large volumes of polyester without relying on changes in consumer behavior or waste collection systems.

This breakthrough not only creates an opportunity to divert substantial amounts of waste from incineration but also to meet the growing market demand for recycled polyester, a material which the textile industry is consuming almost 10 million tons of annually.  This approach aligns perfectly with circular economy principles, conserving resources and offering a financially attractive option for municipalities and waste management operators.

New options

This opens numerous new options to increase the recycling rate of post-consumer Textiles (PCT), particularly by accessing materials that are not separately sorted by consumers.

- By leveraging Rewins technology it becomes possible for circular supply chains to substantially increase their capacity and contribute to reduced incineration of recyclable materials. For municipalities and waste management operators, it presents a financially attractive option to turn waste into a raw material for high demand recycled polyester materials while also meeting EU’s goals by enabling more efficient, waste strategies that can handle diverse recycling rates and a more circular economy, says Henrik Wene.

As the world continues its journey towards a more circular textile economy, our innovative technology at Rewin is helping to address some of the industry's most pressing challenges. By transforming previously non-recyclable materials into valuable resources, we're not only reducing waste but also contributing to a more sustainable future. This breakthrough highlights the potential for advanced technologies to play a crucial role in improving recycling efficiency and supporting societies sustainability goals.