The importance of recycling textiles is increasingly being recognized. Over 80 billion garments are produced annually, worldwide. According to U.S. EPA, around 16 million tons of textile municipal solid waste (MSW) was generated in 2015, about 6.1% of total MSW generation. The rate for textiles derived from clothing and footwear was 14.2%, while the recovery for sheets and pillowcases was 16.3% for the same year. As such, textile recycling is a significant challenge to be addressed as we strive to move closer to a zero landfill society. Once in landfills, natural fibers can take hundreds of years to decompose. They may release methane and CO2 gas into the atmosphere. Additionally, synthetic textiles are designed not to decompose. In the landfill, they may release toxic substances into groundwater and surrounding soil. Textile recycling offers the following environmental benefits:
Decreases landfill space requirements, bearing in mind that synthetic fiber products do not decompose and that natural fibers may release greenhouse gasses Avoided use of virgin fibers Reduced consumption of energy and water Pollution avoidance Lessened demand for dyes.