Trollhättan is a medium-sized city in western Sweden with a population of approximately 59,000 and a diverse housing mix. In the pilot project, a mobile recycling center was placed directly in residential areas with many apartment buildings. The aim was to make textile collection more accessible and to investigate how proximity, dialogue, and staffing affect residents’ participation and sorting behavior.
The mobile unit was staffed by personnel who assisted residents on-site, handed out bags, and provided guidance on proper sorting. Particular emphasis was placed on dry handling and clear communication, which helped reduce contamination right at the source. The direct contact made it possible to answer questions and create a shared understanding of what happens to the textiles after collection.
Preliminary observations
The pilot project resulted in the collection of 393 kg of textiles. Participation remained steady in the areas where the mobile recycling center was set up, and the staffed presence provided valuable insights into residents’ sorting choices and considerations.
A review of the collected material reveals clear patterns in quality. A significant proportion of the textiles is assessed as being of medium to high quality, which points to good potential for further sorting, reuse, and material recovery. At the same time, the proportion of wet, moldy, or non-textile fractions was limited, indicating that the combination of proximity and guidance is important for the quality of the inflow.
Although the results are still preliminary, the trial provides a solid data foundation for assessing how mobile and manned solutions can complement existing collection systems.
Part of the SorTex project’s overall knowledge-building efforts
The findings from Trollhättan are incorporated into the SorTex project’s overall efforts to develop and compare collection methods in Sweden and Denmark. Parallel tests are being conducted across the project, contributing to a shared understanding of:
- How collection design influences sorting behavior
- how contamination can be reduced at the source
- how accessibility and dialogue influence participation
- how the quality of collected textiles can be improved
The Trollhättan trial marks the beginning of a series of empirical findings in the SorTex project and provides insights that can be used in further methodological development and in future decisions regarding textile collection in municipalities.
SorTex is a cross-border Interreg Øresund–Kattegat–Skagerrak project funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The project brings together municipalities, organizations, and businesses in Sweden and Denmark with the shared goal of promoting circular solutions for textiles—with reuse and recycling as key principles in the waste hierarchy.
