The British Heart Foundation has been working with local universities to reduce the amount of textile waste, including in Jesmond.

The charity’s “Pack for Good” campaign collected almost 18,000 bags of clothes and other material from recycling points around Newcastle, which it reckons diverted 143 tonnes of waste from ending up in landfill. In a statement, Newcastle City Council said: “Communities play a key role in minimising waste, shown by student-populated areas, including Jesmond, really getting behind initiatives.”

Nine council clothing banks have been placed in areas with high student populations, Jesmond being one of them. However, the St. Oswald’s Hospice clothing bank had to be removed after people dumped litter in it, contaminating the donations.

British Heart Foundation clothing banks have been placed around Newcastle, including Jesmond.

Andrew Moir, head of retail at St Oswald’s, told JesmondLocal that the store in Jesmond has seen continuous growth, and noted there had been an increase in donations in recent years with the popularity of cheap, fast fashion. “So-called fast fashion has resulted in an increase in donations but not necessarily an increase of quality,” he said. “Charity shops benefit from receiving donations that have a longer life span.” The Jesmond store is known for stocking premium brand items, which Moir says sell better, generating more income for the hospice.

The St. Oswald’s Hospice charity shop on Hazlewood Avenue welcomes all donations, but had to remove its clothing bank due to littering.

Newcastle City Council says people can also recycle unwanted textiles at a household waste recycling centre. Byker waste recycling centre is the closest to Jesmond, however the one in Brunswick near Gosforth has been earmarked for closure.

JesmondLocal spoke to some of the residents in Jesmond to find out what they know about recycling textiles and some said  they were unsure about about how and where to recycle. Some residents said there should be more advertising and encouragement to recycle textiles. Likewise, Moir suggests an advice sticker on domestic refuse collection bin might help explain how people can donate textiles, but he said he believes the council are already doing a lot to encourage textiles recycling.

One of the British Heart Foundation clothing banks sits outside Jesmond Library.

Tips on recycling:

• Donate as much as possible to charity – even ripped or damaged items can be recycled by the store and generate income.
• Make sure the items are clean and pairs of shoes are tied together.
• Duvets and pillows can’t be recycled, but can be donated to animal shelters.
• Use the clothing banks to donate unwanted items, but be mindful of contamination.
• You can ask the British Heart Foundation to collect large amounts of unwanted items from your home.
• Students can speak to their student union to get involved in the “Pack for Good” campaign.
• H&M on Northumberland Street also offers a £5 voucher if you recycle your old clothes.