QCEN members visit Salvos Boomerang recycling plant

Members of the Queensland Churches Environmental Network (QCEN) were lucky enough to visit the new Salvos Boomerang recycling plant, a world first textile recycling plant, at Carole Park, Qld.

With the increase in fast fashion, the western world is more and more facing the massive problem of textile waste. On average in Australia each person purchases 55 new items of clothing each year. Used and unwanted clothing more and more finds its way into landfill or is shipped to third world countries -the problem passed on.

In an attempt to be part of the solution, the Salvation Army are building a world first textile recycling plant. The plant will automatically sort items of clothing that cannot be resold according to the fibre type. Sorted items are cut into squares and zips, buttons, labels, logos etc removed. The textiles will then be available to be reused as textiles, or used to make other products such as insulation or sound proofing sheets.
The new plant is scheduled to launch in March.
(Picture left to right: Major Mark Everitt, Rev'd Peter Moore, Emily Murray, Jackie Fewtrell, Dr Kate Power and Major Rowena Smith)