Find your nearest recycling bank
Clothes recycling scheme
The charity has run a successful clothes recycling scheme since 2009, in partnership with fire and rescue services and textile recycling companies across the UK, and in the last 12 months over £600,000 was raised for our charity.
Our recycling partners manage our recycling initiative across the UK, with donations of £120 per tonne coming straight to the charity from clothing banks on fire stations and community sites.
Find your nearest recycling bank
What you can donate: Clothes Banks
- Adult and children’s clothing
- Socks
- Coats
- Underwear
- Paired shoes
- Handbags
- Linen
No bric-a-brac, plastic, toys or electrical items please.
Please do not leave bags of clothing outside of the banks – this can cause damage to the contents inside and runs a risk to the fire station the bank lives on. If the bank seems full, please try pushing the bags already in the chute first, in case they’re caught there.
Frequently Asked Questions
My local clothing bank is full, what should I do with my bag of clothes?
Please do not leave your clothes beside the bank or anywhere else on fire station grounds. If the bank is full, please call the phone number displayed on the textile bank to report the full bank, and then please try again over the next couple of days.
Where is my closest recycling bank?
Please click on the button below:
Find your nearest recycling bank
What if I accidentally post my keys or wallet into the bank?!
Please telephone the number on the bank and arrange a mutually convenient time for them to open it. Please do not attempt to climb or reach into the bank.
What happens to the donated clothes?
The donated clothing, shoes, handbags and textiles are collected by our recycling partners and wearable clothing is re-used, usually sold in under-developed countries. Any textiles that are unwearable are recycled into such items as industrial wipers and car upholstery and also re-used in the production of many other items. The income generated from clothes recycling helps Fire Fighters Charity to provide health and wellbeing support to the UK’s fire family.
How do we get a textile bank on our fire station or community site?
We work with all of our UK Fire and Rescue Services to identify and agree fire stations that are safe and suitable to have a clothing bank sited. A risk assessment is carried out and a clothing bank is only placed once approval from all parties has been established. Sometimes it is not possible to place a clothing bank, but in these cases every effort is made to identify alternative locations where possible. For further information please contact us via the button below.
Request a clothes recycling bank
Do you take textile off-cuts and remnants?
Unfortunately we cannot accept textile off-cuts or remnants at our recycling banks.
I have a lot of stained clothes, will these be accepted?
We prefer the clothing to not be stained or damaged, but we can take a very small amount that is damaged or stained. Any unwearable clothing will be recycled and re-used into other items where possible.
When it says I can donate “linen” does that include bed covers, sheets and curtains?
Yes, we can take sheets, duvet covers and curtains just as long it’s not in bulk quantities.
Do I have to donate my clothing in plastic bags? I’m trying to reduce the amount of plastic I use.
We do recommend using plastic bags to protect the items. The bags are collected and also recycled. However, if you would prefer to donate them unbagged this is fine too.
Recycling Toolkit
We also have a toolkit of posters and images that you can use to promote your clothing bank in your community and online.
Other ways to get involved
Click on the buttons below to learn about how you can support us.