Salvos Stores has opened a textile recovery facility in Brisbane, describing the site as the first of its kind in Australia and part of broader efforts to reduce clothing waste and support circular economy initiatives.
The facility, established in partnership with the Queensland Government, provides automated textile sorting and decommissioning services designed to identify recyclable textile materials, as revealed in a news release.
According to Salvos Stores, the system will help recover textile feedstock that can be reused or repurposed into new products rather than being sent to landfill.
Salvos Stores said the facility will begin piloting and scaling textile recovery operations in Brisbane and is expected to process up to 5,000 tonnes of textiles each year.
The organisation said revenue generated from recovered materials will contribute to funding the frontline programs of The Salvation Army across Australia.
Head of Salvos Stores Nic Baldwin said the project reflects the organisation’s approach to combining environmental initiatives with its charitable mission.
“This achievement is a proud moment for Salvos Stores and reflects our deep commitment to innovation and caring for the planet we all share,” Baldwin said.
“It’s about taking real, practical steps to reduce textile waste and keep more out of landfill, while continuing to find new ways to generate vital funding for the life-changing programs of The Salvation Army. Every step forward helps us create lasting impact for both people and the environment.”
The initiative comes amid growing concern about textile waste in Australia, where more than 200,000 tonnes of clothing are estimated to end up in landfill each year.
Meriel Chamberlin, business development manager for Salvos Stores, said the organisation has long relied on community donations and resale to extend the life of goods, and the new facility aims to expand that approach.
“For over 140 years, Salvos Stores have turned second-hand goods into hope through our stores,” Chamberlin said. “Each year, our community of Salvos Stores shoppers give a new home to millions of donated items, keeping them in circulation. Our Textile Recovery Facility is our new way to keep even more textiles in circulation and out of landfill, turning cutting-edge innovation into real solutions.”
The Queensland Government provided $4.97 million in funding to support the establishment of the facility in Brisbane.
Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the investment aligns with the state government’s focus on improving waste management infrastructure and supporting environmental outcomes.
“The Crisafulli Government has supported the delivery of this Australian-first facility that will turn today’s waste into tomorrow’s products,” Powell said.
“This facility will reduce the amount of textile waste going to landfill, but it will also unlock new economic opportunities and support Queensland’s transition to a sustainable economy. We recognise the critical need for waste infrastructure in Queensland, and we are taking action to deliver it through this new nation-leading facility.”
Salvos Stores operates more than 400 retail outlets across Australia. The organisation said its network kept around 52 million donated items in circulation last year, and it expects the new facility to further expand efforts to reduce the environmental impact of discarded textiles while encouraging innovation in the sector.
