3.10 TEXTILES
3.10.1 Description
The general category of textiles inchdes woven or knitted cotton. wool, polyester. spthctic and
synthetic-blend products, and stuffing products. Textile wastes are generated both industrially and through
consumer use.
End users, processors, brokers and handlers identified through the O W Recycler Database arc listed in
Figures 3.10.1 and mapped in Figures 3.10.2 and 3.10.3. In all, there are 28 textile recycling businesses in
North Carolina. Taking into account that many of these companies perform more than one recycling function,
there is a total of eight companies that serve as end users, 17 with processing facilities, 14 as brokers and 16
as handlers.
3.10.2 Market Structure
After collection, scrap textiles generally go through a grading process during whlch textile scraps are
separated and assessed as to their value. Large textile scraps that are clean and in good condition usually
receivea higher grade than small, dirty scraps. High-grade scraps can be sold to an end user and/or processor
at a greater value than low-grade scrap. Owing to the tedious nature of hand sorting large quantities of wastes,
scrap textiles are often shipped to third world countries that provide attractive, low cost labor forces.
Processors, brokers and handlers generally collect from small and medium-size mills. They prefer to receive
shipments or pick up goods on a regular basis but will accept one-time or irregular spot shipments.
Transportation of waste textiles can be economically problematic for the textile recycling companies.
Because textiles are light in relation to the space they consume, shipping loose textiles is inefficient.
Generally, waste textiles are compacted previous to shipment to increase the amount of scrap that can be
transported in one haul. Compacting waste textiles is essential for overseas shipping.
One hindrance to waste textile recycling businesses is that shipments of industrial scrap may contain trash
and other obsolete products, according to a processor of textile wastes located in Burlington. NC. He explains
that increased tipping fees for the state’s landfills could result in the inclusion of trash products in textile
shipments. By diverting their non-textile wastes from landfilis to scrap recyclers. textile industries could
avoid local disposal costs.
Some textile wastes cannot be processed in the United States because of labeling restrictions. By law, textile
manufacturers are required to identify the contents of their products. Because the components of textile scrap
are not always possible to determine, these scraps cannot be marketed domestically and are often shipped to
other countries with less stringent regulations.
3.10.3 Markets Serving North Carolina
According to information gathered through the OWR Recycler Database, there are eight end users of textile
wastes in North Carolina. Four end usen are located in the Mountain region, and four are located in the
Pledmont region. These end users often receive supplies directly from the industries that generate waste
tex ti lqs
End markets to be discussed in this report are table linens, rewind yam. hand-woven rugs, Dupont polyester
wood pulp sheets, wiping cloths and rags. Due to the competitive nature of the textile recycling business,
many of these companies released information on an anonymous basis. Other markets that exist in North
Carolina include stuffing. paper, carpet underlay and socks.
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Table Linem. The O W Recycler Database idenrifies one manufacturer of table linens in the Piedmont
repon of North Carolina that consumes texrile ua5tes. A company spokesperson explains that these table
linens contain polyester, virgin cotton and 10 percent recycled material. The company does nor plan to
increase its consumption of secondary material.
Rpwind Yarn. One company located in NC's Mountain repon that produces rewind y a m is identified hrough
the O W Recycler Database as an end user of yam scrap. According to a company spokesperson. h s rewind
yard contains 95 percent yarn scraps. All of the yarn wastes consumed in production are generated w i h
North Carolina. Total consumption quantities of raw material are unavailable. The company currently has
no plans for expanded use of yarn scraps.
Hand-WovenRugs. One manufacturer of hand-woven rugs located in the Mountain region of North Carolina
is identified through the OWR Recycler Database as an end user of textile wastes. The rugs are produced
from 100 percent textile scraps. According to a company spokesperson. of the 360 tons of textile wastes
consumed each year, 85 percent is generated from w i h n North Carolina. and the remainder is imported from
adjacent states. The company has no plans for expansion.
Dupont Pofyester Wood Pulp. According to the OWR Recycler Database, the one identified manufacturer
of Dupont polyester wood pulp sheets is located in NC's Mountain region. Dupont polyester wood pulp
sheets ace non-woven polyester cloths impregnated with wood pulp. This cloth is produced from 100 percent
recycled materials and can be manufactured into disposable garments such as surgical gowns and gloves for
the medical industry. Of the 1.500 tons of waste textiles consumed each year, 95 percent is generated from
within North Carolina. The company has no plans for expanding.
Wiping Cloths and Rags. Five North Carolina companies are identified through the OWR Recycler Database
as consuming textile wastes in the production of wiping cloths and rags. Three of these companies are located
in the Mountain region. and two are located in the Piedmont region. While a majority of the textile wastes
consumed by these companies is generated from within North Carolina. scrap materials are also imported
from other states and countries. The wiping cloths and rags are produced from 100 percent recycled
polycotton kmts, polycotton wovens. fleece, plywood pulp, denims, old t-shirts. cheesecloth and defective
cloth.
The value of textile wastes relative to the wiping cloth and rag market is determined by their quantity and
quality. In general clean, absorbent textile scraps that are received in bulk are the most valuable.
None of the manufacturers of wiping cloths and rags have plans for expansion.
End- user markets for blankets, non-wovens. plastics. fine writing paper, auto bedding, padding. sanitary
napkins, gauze. rope, twine. underlay for furniture. Band-Aids. gloves and latex are not known to exist in
North Carolina. As a result, processors, brokers and handlers often market textile materials to other states
and/or countries.
The OWR Recycler Database identifies 18 processors of waste textiles throughout North Carolina. As shown
in the previous figures. there are 12 processors in the Piedmont. five in the Mountain, and one in the Tidewater
region. These processors perform one or more of the following functions: sorting and baling, removing y a m
from cones or paper cores, blending and cleaning. breaking down materials and tearing open fiber lines.
Textile wastes are often processed through a gameter, or tearing machme. The material being processed is
broken-down and combed with long needles to eliminate waste products. There are several different versions
of the gameter machine with capacities varying between 5.000 and 1O.ooO pounds per hour.
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One processor of military surplus clothing, located in Jacksonville, is identified by the OWR Recycler
Database. The company acquires clothing from nearby military bases, cleans and repairs i t and sells i t to end
markets in North Carolina and in the northeastem states. Other outlets of used clothmg include Good Will
Industries and the Salvation Army.
NC processors receive their material from a variety of US and international sources. They may receive
shipments from brokers and handlers or directly f ” factories. While uansportation fees are negotiated on
a case-by-case basis, the processor often arranges and pays for shipment of the waste textiles.
Some processors export their recycled textile products to Europe, North Africa and Latin America for
reprocessing into mattress batting, sleeping bag insulation and padding forjackets. One processor explains
that it exports about half of its recycled textiles to Westem Europe, Latin America and Asia. While
transportation fees are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, two of the processors say they usually pay for
overseas shipping; two other processors say that they pay approximately 50 percent of the time.
The OWR Recycler Database identifies 14 companies in the Piedmont region of North Carolina that provide
brokering services. Of these brokers, 10 are located in the Piedmont region. three are locaied in the Mountain
region, and one is located in the Tidewater region. One broker contacted explains that it collects 80 percent
of the scrap textiles (cotton, hosiery, synthetic, thread, wool and yam wastes) from waste generators within
North Carolina. The remainder of textile scraps marketed by this company are gathered from neighboring
states.
There are 16 handlers of textile wastes in North Carolina. Ten of these handlers are located in the Piedmont
region, five are located in the Mountain region, and one is located in the Tidewater region.
North Carolina handlers contacted receive most of their waste materials from domestic textile mills and
neighboring states. One Asheville handler, for example, specifies that he accumulates scrap textiles (hosiery
mill waste, wiping cloths and non-wovens) from within a 100-mile radius.
These handlers generally sell their textile wastes to the shoddy industry (which manufactures low quality
fabric stuffing from wholly or partly reclaimed wool), the yarn industry, and the arts and crafts indusaies.
Handlers are charged freight on delivery (FOD) for the scrap textiles that they receive.
3.10.4 Conclusion
The textile scrap that is recycled in North Carolina is generated primarily from the manufacturers of textile
products. These scraps are collected, graded (sorted and assessed for value), and sold to domestic and
out-of-state and foreign markets. None of the textile recyclers contacted has plans to expand its operations.
Market conditions for textile scrap depend on the condition of the scraps being sold. High-grade textile waste
is valuable and is in high demand. Low-grade scrap can contain unusable products and can be difficult to
market. Because demand for textiles is relatively constant, only mild price fluctuations occur.
There are several obstacles to the recycling of textiles. The scrap collected by textile recyclers may contain
industrial wastes and trash products. This is a problem that could effect North Carolina since industrial
generators might include other wastes products in their scrap textile shipments in order to avoid the tipping
fees from disposing of these wastes at l o c d landfills.
Another market limitation for textile waste recyclers is the lack of end users in North Carolina. While North
Carolina provides a strong end-user market for textile wastes used to produce table linens, rewind yam,
hand-woven rugs, dupont polyester wood pulp, and wiping cloths and rags, there are no in-state end markets
for materials used to produce blankets, non-wovens. plastics. fine writing paper, auto bedding, padding,
sanitary napkins, gauze, rope, twine, underlay for furniture. Band-Aids, gloves and latex.
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Transportation is a major economic drawback to the recycling industry. Because scrap textile is light relative
to the space i t consumes, i t is usually condensed for shipping. Densifying textile wastes increases the amount
of scraps that can be hauled and is essential for long distance marketing. According to recycling officials
contacted, many textile recyclers avoid tugh transportation costs by purchasing their textiles from nearby
sources.
Manufacturers of products using scrap textiles in the state are not planning to increase their demand for
material unless demand for their products increase. This is not foreseen because of the current recessionq
environment and the impact h g h gas prices have on production costs. Most of the end users interviewed are
small,privately-held companies that employ staffs of less than 100 people. Any expansion of their business
would result in modest staff increases at best.
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FIGURE 3.10.1
RECYCLING BUSINESSES ACCEPTING
TEXTILE MATERIALS
- H 8 W Waste Co. (Burlington, NC) [PI
ENDUSERS
-
- Halifax Recyding, Inc. (Roanoke Rapids, NC) [BPI
Cascade Fibers Co. (Sanford, NC) [PE]
-
-
J. G. Thompson Enterprises (Spindale, NC) [BHPEJ
-
J 8 E Salvage (Jacksonville, NC) [BHP]
-
Jerry Russell Recycling (Star, NC) [HEJ
-
Newco Fibre Company (Charlot!e, NC) [BPI
-
Kmg’s Kountty Klassics (Hendersonville, NC) [BHPE]
- Sbsman Corp. (Asheville, NC) [PI
-
Sonoco.Produds Company (Hartsville, SC) [BHPE]
-
-
Sun Bel Textiles. Inc. (Kings Mountain, NC) [PE]
HANDLERS
-
Sync01 Fhrs, Inc. (Charlotte, NC) [BHPE]
-
-
Textile Waste Company, Inc. (Pineville, NC) [BPE]
- CISCO (Greensboro, NC) v ]
-
Tii-Mar, Inc. (Sheby, NC) [PEJ
-
Day Spring, Inc. (Lawrenceville, GA) [BH]
PROCESSORS
-
Edgecomb RecydingCorp. (Tarboro, NC) [BH]
-
-
Federal Waste Paper Co. (Burlington, NC) [HI
Add Paper Cores (Rodtingham, NC) [HP]
Sun Bel Recycling (Lexington. NC) [BPI
Bates Textile Sales, Inc. (Hamptonville, NC) [BH]
I
-
Belmont Wpmg Cbth Co. (Charlotte, NC) (PI
-
Feibus & Co., Inc. (Charlotte, NC) p]
-
BoUag International Cop.(Newell, NC) [BHP]
-
Henry Fbers. Inc. (Gastonia, NC) [BH]
-
Bowers Fibers, Inc. (Charlotte, NC) [PI
-
Isaac Gradman Co. (Asheville, NC) p]
-
Cathy Yam Co.,Inc. (Mount Holly, NC) [HP]
-
J. E. Herndon Co. (Kings Mountain, NC) p ]
-
Eastern Carolina Vocational Center (GreenviUe, NC) PHP]
-
Larry Davis Textile Division (Haw River, NC) [BH]
-
GDS Recycling Services (Conover, NC) [BHP]
-
Paul Godwin Co., Inc. (Burlington, NC) [HI
--
i
[E = End User; P = Processor; H = Handler; B = Broker]
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4
Textiles (co nt'd)
9
BROKERS
- , Ahr-Baugh. Inc. (Cramerlon, NC) [B]
-
Matthew P. McQuaid(31.(Charlotte, NC) [B]
-
M q p o Products, Inc. (Charlotte, NC) [B]
-
Red Hill Cop.(Getlysburg, PA) p]
*.
c
c
1
\r
[E End User; P = Processor; H = Handler; B = Broker]
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