Dispose Consciously. Act Sustainably. Survey on the Used Clothing Disposal Behaviour of the Population in Augsburg and the Surrounding Area

Objective: The study examines the disposal behaviour of used textiles in the Augsburg and the surrounding regions in order to identify influencing factors, motives, and needs of the population. The aim is to gain empirical insights for optimizing the collection of used tex-tiles in the context of the NuCollect research project and to derive recommended actions for municipalities, collectors, and sorting companies. Approach: Data on behavioural patterns, information needs, and sociodemographic differences were collected in June 2025 using a quantitative online survey (N = 420) of predefined, heterogeneous areas in and around Augsburg. The evaluation was carried out using descriptive statistics in line with the Consumer Product Disposition Process (CPDP) according to Hanson (1980). Key findings: - The used clothing container is the preferred method of disposal (83.1%), alt-hough there is uncertainty about which textiles are acceptable and where the containers are located. - The main motives for disposal in used clothing containers are contributing to re-cycling (84.8%) and environmental preservation (72.1%). - There is a clear need for more information regarding sorting guidelines and pro-cessing methods. - The majority (83.3%) are in favour of separating well-preserved and damaged textiles for disposal. - Sociodemographic differences (e.g., gender, age, urban-rural divide) influence waste disposal behaviour.