It might come as a surprise to learn that around 85% of textiles thrown away in the US are dumped into landfills or burned. Textiles generate greenhouse methane gas and leach toxic chemicals and dyes into the groundwater and our soil during the decomposition process. However, researchers have started a new trial to use the shredded cotton waste in the cotton field instead of in landfills. The 12-month trial was conducted on a cotton farm at Goondiwindi and has shown it is possible to divert large amounts of cotton textile waste at the end of life from landfill with no harm done to soil health or cotton yields. Project collaborators are confident that with a solid business plan and more research, returning shredded cotton products to cotton fields could soon benefit soil health and create a scalable solution to the massive global problem of textile waste.
The 12-month trial was conducted on Sam Coulton’s farm, Alcheringa, and Mr. Coulton said the cotton fields easily “swallowed up” the shredded cotton material, giving him confidence that this composting method has practical long-term potential. Under the guidance of circular economy specialists Coreo, the project involved the Queensland Government, Goondiwindi Cotton, Sheridan, Cotton Australia, Worn Up, and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), which supported the involvement of the University of New England soil scientist Oliver Knox.
Dr. Knox said, “At the very least, the trial showed that no harm was done to soil health, with microbial activity slightly increased and at least 2070kg of carbon dioxide equivalents mitigated through the breakdown of these garments in soil rather than landfill. The trial diverted around 2 tonnes of textile waste from landfill with no negative impact on cotton planting, emergence, growth, or harvest. Soil-carbon levels remained stable, and the soil’s bugs responded well to the added cotton material. There also appeared to be no adverse effect from dyes and finishes, although more testing is needed on a wider range of chemicals to be absolutely sure of that.”
