The Scottish New Generation Group visited Nathan's Wastesavers Ltd on 12th April 2005. A brief presentation on Nathan's Wastesavers was given prior to a tour of the site operations.

Established in 1903, Nathan's Wastesavers Ltd is the UK's largest textile recycling company.

A fleet of 24 specially designed collection vehicles, fitted with mobile weighing equipment provides kerbside/door to door collection service from 700 charity customers and 597 textile banks.

Each week over 200 staff sort and process over 300 tonnes of material. Products such as quality used clothing, shoes, handbags, synthetics, cotton, wool knits and cloth are exported world-wide to markets including Africa, India, Pakistan, South America, Yemen and Eastern Europe. 

When items arrive they are sorted and graded according to the type of materials e.g. men’s wool trousers. Shoes, handbags and suits are first removed for sorting separately.

Damaged or torn items are made into cloths some of which are used in the oil industry. Light items are sorted and graded before being bailed for export as used clothing. Heavier items, unsuitable for clothing in warmer countries are sorted according to material type and bailed for use as mattress filling or sound insulation in the UK. Alternatively items may be chopped prior to bailing to comply with some countries import regulations for uses such as blanket making.

The group found the scale and mechanisation of operations most impressive which is reflected in the ever-increasing tonnage collected and processed. In 2003 to 2004 this increased by 70%.

The highly informative and enjoyable visit concluded with a lively discussion.