Hanover removes old clothing containers: A step for clean streets!

Hanover removes old clothing containers: A step for clean streets!

The city of Hanover is taking a drastic step in waste management and plans to remove all 520 used clothing containers from the cityscape by the end of November 2025. The reason for this is massive problems with littering caused by incorrect use of the containers. Time and time again, unusable items end up in the containers or are placed right next to them, which further attracts garbage. In this context, the city will no longer conclude any new concession contracts with collectors, so the German Red Cross (DRK) will also have to clear its five containers (Weser-Kurier) ([NDR](https://www.ndr.de/n News/lower-saxony/hannover_weser-leinegebiet/too-much-muell-hannover-removes-all-old-clothes-containers, old clothes-128.html)).

The dismantling of the containers will be completed from November, which means that citizens in Hanover can only hand in clothes and shoes at special recycling centers or in clothing stores run by charitable organizations. The waste disposal emergency that exists in Hanover is not an isolated case. Similar problems have also arisen in other cities in Lower Saxony, such as Wolfsburg and Lüneburg: Containers have already been sealed there or organizations have stopped collecting them.

Situation in Bremen

There are currently no comparable measures planned in Bremen. The Bremen environmental authority and the city cleaning department are skeptical that dismantling containers will solve the problem of illegal waste dumping. Last year in Bremen, around 25 used clothing containers were dismantled at particularly dirty locations, while the number of containers at recycling centers was even increased. There are also isolated dismantling operations in problematic locations in Bremen, but many containers, such as those in Huchting, Neustadt and Walle, are still targets of illegal disposal (Weser-Kurier).

Some districts, like Schwachhausen, have actually noticed an improvement after removing four containers. However, the problems with overfilled glass containers that continue to exist are an example that the challenges in waste management are complex. The city cleaning service is planning increased controls and sanctions against waste pollution in order to deal with the dilemma.

EU directive and the future of used textiles

Another factor influencing the situation is the new EU directive, which requires separate collection of used textiles from January 1, 2025. This regulation stipulates that old textiles, including those that are damaged, must be recorded separately in order to strengthen the circular economy. Heavily damaged items of clothing, such as torn fabrics or dirty consumer items, must be collected separately and may no longer end up in the residual waste (Kilian & Colleagues).

While the EU directive aims to make the recycling process more efficient, it does not directly oblige consumers to dispose of damaged textiles separately. Nevertheless, it remains permitted and could be an important measure in the fight against textile waste. If locals informed themselves about disposal regulations and reconsidered their consumer behavior, we could work together to reduce the mountain of textile waste.

The developments in Hanover and Bremen show that the topic of old clothing disposal is very topical. It remains to be seen whether the dismantling campaigns in Hanover should be a model for Bremen or whether alternative solutions need to be found here. However, one thing is certain: awareness of responsible clothing use is increasing, and this is a step in the right direction!