Recycling Textile Waste: An Issue of Interest to Sewn Products Manufacturers

Interest in recycling textile waste has grown over the last two decades because of increasing costs associated with disposal in landfills and increasing concern for protecting the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of support for recycling textile waste by Missouri sewn products manufacturers, and to examine the relationship of four independent variables with the level of support for textile recycling. Data were generated from 46 responses to a mailed questionnaire sent to all sewn products facilities in the state. The independent variables included in the multiple regression model were concern for material utilization, community size, landfill fee increases, and economic feasibility to recycle combined with plant size. The model was significant in explaining 32.9% of the variance in support for textile recycling. Although this was a small sample of sewn products manufacturers, it provides useful insight to companies considering textile recycling programs.