Short read: Why scientists think they may finally have found a way to recycle clothes

Did you know that it is actually impossible to recycle clothes? As a result, when we dump our old clothes, they either go into a landfill or have to be burnt. Either way, it is not a pretty situation. Now, however, things might change for the better. Nicolas Rivero’s article says “…scientists are coming up with new ways to recycle those fabrics into new clothes or useful products.

A critical step, though, will be figuring out how to handle blended fabrics that combine different materials, mainly cotton and polyester, into one piece of cloth. Once the fibers are blended together, it’s hard to separate one material from the other so that each can be recycled separately.

Researchers at the University of Delaware are proposing a new recycling technique that breaks down blended fabrics using chemicals and microwaves. The researchers say the process takes 15 minutes and can dissolve any blend of cotton, polyester, nylon and spandex into molecules that can be used to make new fabrics or products like dyes, electronics and tires.

Catchall recycling techniques like this one could be a last line of defense to keep clothing out of the dump, according to Tasha Lewis, an associate clinical professor in fashion and retail studies at Ohio State University.

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