A local authority is encouraging residents to think twice before buying new clothes.
Torridge District Council said an average of 1.7kg of a person’s textiles goes in their black bags each year and fashion was becoming one of the fastest growing contributors to waste.
It added that by restyling, repairing or repurposing existing items, residents could save money, reduce textile waste and help protect the environment.
Any textiles that cannot be repurposed or restyled can be donated to local charity shops and clothing banks, or collected during Torridge’s weekly recycling collection service, the council said.
The council said it would accept clothes, clean pairs of shoes, duvet and pillow covers, sheets and curtains.
Residents are advised to put the recyclable items on top of paper inside the green bag to ensure they stay clean and dry.
It added up to three items could be accepted per collection and the Salvation Army would then sort the items for resale, donations or to be turned into rags.
Councillor Chris Leather, the council’s lead member for operational services, said: “The amount of textiles that end up in our black bags each year is absolutely staggering.
“If you find any unwanted textiles, we will ensure these are put to good use when you recycle them in your green bag.”