Big change! The Polish Red Cross (PCK) is announcing the removal of most used clothing bins. New rules, sorting problems and abuse are ending the old way of donating and recycling textiles on Polish streets.
Why is the PCK removing the bins?
New regulations, which took effect in January 2025, require local governments to collect textiles separately. This means old clothes can no longer end up in mixed waste – they should go to specialised locations, such as selective collection points or dedicated containers. However, the latter are now rapidly disappearing.
What was going into the bins?
Instead of giving clothes a “second life”, PCK bins were increasingly treated like ordinary rubbish bins. They contained not only used textiles but also municipal waste, old furniture, cardboard and even dead animals. The cost of disposing of this rubbish fell on the PCK, taking funds that should go to social assistance, support for seniors and children’s community centres.
New rules for donating clothing
What to do with clothes after the changes?
From 2025, clothing, shoes and household textiles should go to:
- selective municipal waste collection points (PSZOK),
- specialist points run by municipalities,
- remaining containers that are still in place (mainly those operated by charitable organisations).
| Where to donate old clothes? | Recommended place |
|---|---|
| Good condition, for reuse | Charity shops, PCK container* |
| Worn or damaged | PSZOK point |
| Textile toys | PCK container*, PSZOK |
| Shoes (in pairs, clean) | PCK container*, PSZOK |
*If the container is operational and properly marked
What next?
The Polish Red Cross urges people to use the remaining containers responsibly – only clean, reusable items will be used for charitable purposes.
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