TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's used clothing recycling industry confronts mounting challenges amid rising costs and stricter quality requirements from Chinese and Southeast Asian markets. The Resource Circulation Administration (資源循環署) reports that Taiwan recycled roughly 82,000 metric tons of used clothing last year, exporting 35,000 tons while repurposing 28,000 tons as wiping cloths and filler materials.
Recycling plant owner Wu Chi-cheng (吳基正) emphasized the financial pressures facing the sector, including escalating shipping, labor, and facility expenses. To counter these rising costs, businesses innovate by transforming waste clothing into alternative products such as flooring, wood panels, and eco-friendly bags.
The Ministry of Environment (MOENV, 環境部) has established a textile resource circulation alliance to improve recycling efficiency for mixed materials. This initiative represents a strategic response to the industry's evolving challenges.
"Our goal is to establish a comprehensive cycle from design to recycling," explained Chung Yun-tai (鍾昀泰), deputy head of MOENV's Sustainable Consumption and Recycling Division (永續消費回收組). However, local implementation varies significantly, with Hsinchu City and Yilan County having removed collection boxes entirely, forcing residents to independently contact social welfare organizations.