Textile Waste Landfill Statistics

Textile waste contains long-lasting fibers that reduce biodegradation in landfill compared to purely organic waste [1]

Persistent synthetic fibers can fragment into microplastics in the environment, including via landfill pathways [2]

Landfill methane emissions contribute significantly to global climate change [3]

Methane has a global warming potential of 28-36 (depending on time horizon and study; IPCC AR5) [4]

VOC emissions from landfills can include odorous compounds like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) [5]

Hydrogen sulfide is a hazardous air pollutant associated with nuisance odor and health effects [6]

Landfill leachate can contaminate surface water and groundwater if containment fails [7]

Leachate contains dissolved organics that can increase biological oxygen demand (BOD) in receiving waters [7]

Leachate can contain ammonium, which can contribute to oxygen depletion and aquatic impacts [7]

Leachate contains potentially toxic metals depending on waste streams [7]

Landfill gas can also include 2-3% oxygen and trace carbon monoxide that can pose risks [5]

Landfill fires (rare but possible) can occur due to migration of landfill gas [8]

The EEA estimates that textiles and clothing waste are a rapidly growing waste stream, with increasing pressure on landfills [9]

In EU scenarios, most textile waste ends in incineration or landfill rather than recycling [9]

Life-cycle assessments often show higher climate impact for disposal (incineration/landfill) compared with reuse and recycling [10]

Microplastics from synthetic textiles can be transported from waste sites to the environment via leachate and stormwater [11]

Textile dye molecules can be persistent pollutants depending on dye chemistry [12]

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in textiles can contribute to environmental contamination if present in disposed textiles [13]

PFAS are persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile in the environment, contributing to landfill-related risks [13]

Occupational exposure risks exist for waste sorting workers handling textile waste, increasing health impacts from contaminants [14]

WHO reports that hazardous waste handling can increase respiratory and skin risks, which can apply to textile waste sorting and disposal [14]

Landfill methane oxidation in cover soil can reduce emissions; oxidation factor OX is represented in IPCC modeling [3]

IPCC modeling includes oxidation factor because not all methane escapes untreated [3]

Landfill gas is not equally captured across sites; uncontrolled sites emit more [5]

Global textile waste generated was 57 million tonnes in 2019 [15]

Global textile waste generation was projected to increase to 116 million tonnes by 2030 [15]

Global textile waste generation was projected to reach 167 million tonnes by 2050 [15]

An estimated 64% of all textile waste is generated in China, the EU, and the US [16]

EU textile waste generated was 5.8 million tonnes in 2019 [9]

EU textile waste generated was projected to reach 9.1 million tonnes by 2030 [9]

EU textile waste generated was projected to reach 12.9 million tonnes by 2050 [9]

In the EU, 87% of textile waste is incinerated or landfilled [9]

In the EU, 13% of textile waste is recycled [9]

In the EU, 1.8 million tonnes of textiles were recycled in 2017 [9]

In the EU, 3.8 million tonnes of textiles were landfilled in 2017 [9]

In the EU, 2.1 million tonnes of textiles were incinerated in 2017 [9]

In the EU, clothing accounted for 55% of textile waste [9]

In the EU, home textiles accounted for 33% of textile waste [9]

In the EU, industrial textiles accounted for 12% of textile waste [9]

US textile waste generated was about 12.2 million tonnes in 2018 [17]

US textile waste accounted for 8% of municipal solid waste by weight in 2018 [17]

In the US, 2.6 million tonnes of textiles were sent to landfill in 2018 [17]

In the US, 9.1 million tonnes of textiles were incinerated or combusted in 2018 [17]

In the US, 3.4 million tonnes of textiles were recycled or composted in 2018 [17]

In the US, textile waste per capita was 38.5 pounds per person per year in 2018 [17]

UK textiles waste generated was about 230,000 tonnes per year landfilled (as reported in “Textiles: A growing waste problem”) [18]

UK textiles waste generated was about 600,000 tonnes per year (as reported in “Textiles: A growing waste problem”) [18]

China textile waste generation was about 10 million tonnes (as reported in “Global Waste Management Outlook”) [19]

In 2019, 1.6 million tonnes of textiles were recycled in the EU [9]

In 2019, the EU generated about 6.2 million tonnes of textile waste [9]

In 2019, the EU landfilled about 1.3 million tonnes of textiles [9]

In 2019, the EU incinerated about 2.3 million tonnes of textiles [9]

In 2018, EU-27 textile consumption was 12.0 kg per capita per year [20]

In 2018, EU-27 textile waste generated was 5.9 kg per capita per year [20]

Textile landfill sites contribute to methane emissions primarily via anaerobic decomposition of biodegradable components [21]

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with 100-year global warming potential of about 28-34 (AR5 range; EPA cites 28-36) [4]

Landfill gas generation typically occurs over many years after disposal [21]

The EPA landfill methane model uses a methane generation potential (L0) parameter to represent degradable organic carbon [22]

The Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) estimates that landfills can capture 50% to 75% of methane with proper collection systems [23]

Typical methane concentration in landfill gas is 40% to 60% by volume [5]

Typical carbon dioxide concentration in landfill gas is 40% to 60% by volume [5]

Typical nitrogen concentration in landfill gas is 0% to 10% by volume [5]

Landfill gas can contain trace hydrogen sulfide (H2S), typically 0 to 500 ppm (varies by site) [5]

Landfill gas can contain trace siloxanes [5]

Landfill leachate can contain high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon and other contaminants depending on waste composition [24]

Leachate from landfills is one of the key pathways for pollutant migration into groundwater [25]

Textile composition includes significant synthetic fibers that are not readily biodegradable, which reduces decomposition compared to natural fibers [1]

Cellulose-rich fibers degrade relatively faster than synthetic fibers (reported in waste composition studies) [26]

Polyester is resistant to biodegradation and can persist for decades to centuries in landfills (reported as long persistence) [27]

Nylon persistence in the environment is long; literature reports it can persist for decades (reported in microplastic persistence reviews) [27]

Polyester microfibers found in aquatic environments persist and can be transported; landfill-to-environment pathways include leachate and stormwater [11]

Landfill leachate can include textile dyes and finishing chemicals when present in waste [12]

Landfill liners typically include low-permeability materials; leakage rates depend on liner condition and waste [28]

Anaerobic conditions increase methane production from biodegradable organic carbon [3]

IPCC default methane generation model uses first-order decay for biodegradable waste [3]

IPCC default methane generation decay rate (k) varies by waste type and climate, with typical values in the range 0.02 to 0.06 per year [3]

IPCC default methane correction factor for carbon content (MCF) ranges based on landfill management; for “managed anaerobic” it can be 1.0 [3]

IPCC default fraction of degradable organic carbon that yields methane (DOCf) is 0.5 [3]

IPCC default oxidation factor (OX) can be 0.1 for unmanaged landfills [3]

IPCC states methane recovery can reduce emissions if capture systems are installed and operate [3]

The EPA GHG Emissions Model for landfill methane is based on DOC and k parameters [22]

Landfill gas has an energy content of roughly 100 to 200 Btu/scf (varies by methane concentration) [5]

Landfill leachate BOD and COD can be elevated due to biodegradable waste [7]

Landfill leachate typically contains ammoniacal nitrogen due to nitrogen-containing waste [7]

In the EU, landfilling textiles accounted for about 12% of textile waste treatment in 2017 [9]

In the EU, incineration accounted for about 35% of textile waste treatment in 2017 [9]

In the EU, recycling accounted for about 13% of textile waste treatment in 2017 [9]

In the EU, reuse/other recovery accounted for about 40% of textile waste treatment in 2017 [9]

EU Landfill Directive 1999/31/EC sets requirements for hazardous and non-hazardous landfills [29]

EU Directive 2008/98/EC (Waste Framework Directive) establishes the waste hierarchy (prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling, other recovery, disposal) [30]

EU member states must report landfill quantities under the Waste Statistics Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 [31]

Council Directive (EU) 2018/850 amends 1999/31/EC regarding landfill reduction targets [32]

EU landfill reduction targets require diverting biodegradable municipal waste from landfill; while not textile-specific, it affects textile waste disposed in MSW [32]

As of 2018, EU’s target is to reduce biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 35% by 2016 (from 1995 levels) [32]

As of 2018, EU’s target is to reduce biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 25% by 2020 [32]

US EPA requires reporting and permitting for municipal solid waste landfills under federal air and water regulations [33]

US landfill methane is regulated via New Source Performance Standards under Clean Air Act for landfills (via NSPS subpart WWW) [34]

Under NSPS WWW, landfills must comply with standards for control of landfill gas emissions [34]

In the US, 2018 textiles sent to landfill were 2.6 million tonnes [17]

In the US, 2018 textiles sent to recycling were 3.4 million tonnes [17]

In the US, 2018 textiles combusted/incinerated were 9.1 million tonnes [17]

In the UK, landfill tax was set at £94.15 per tonne for 2024-25 (standard rate) [35]

In the UK, landfill tax standard rate for 2023-24 was £102.10 per tonne [35]

In the UK, landfill tax standard rate for 2022-23 was £98.60 per tonne [35]

In Canada, Extended Producer Responsibility is increasingly used for textiles under provincial programs, but landfill data vary; as an example, Ontario introduced textile EPR pilots in 2023 [36]

Denmark has Landfill tax; rates vary, but Danish Landfill tax was DKK 420 per tonne in 2024 (example) [37]

France’s CITOD extended producer responsibility program covers textiles and shoes; EPR rate frameworks are under Eco-systems; landfill outcomes depend on enforcement [38]

The Basel Convention addresses transboundary movement of hazardous waste, which can include contaminated textiles; the treaty lists Annexes [39]

Basel Convention has 189 Parties (as of 2024), influencing how discarded textiles may be treated when hazardous [40]

In the US, capture and destruction requirements are applied to “active” and “closed” landfills based on size and gas control plans [34]

Textile composition in landfills typically includes both natural and synthetic fibers, affecting decomposition and microplastic formation [1]

Global fiber use is dominated by synthetics; polyester share is increasing (implying more non-biodegradable content in waste) [41]

Polyester is the most produced synthetic fiber globally (over 50% of synthetic fibers) [42]

Cellulose-based fibers (cotton/viscose/linen) are biodegradable, whereas synthetics are not readily biodegradable [1]

Polyester persistence is long compared with natural fibers (reported persistence) [27]

Denim (cotton-rich) includes natural fibers that degrade faster than synthetics [26]

Woven and knit structures affect fragmentation and surface area, which can influence microplastic formation [2]

Synthetic microfibers can be shed under abrasion and persist as microplastics [11]

The share of synthetic fibers in clothing is high in many countries; a common estimate is roughly 60%+ synthetics [43]

Cotton is the most important natural fiber; it biodegrades more readily than synthetics in landfills [27]

Viscose/rayon is regenerated cellulose and biodegrades more readily than polyester [26]

Polyester and nylon account for many synthetic fibers in textile waste [1]

The presence of textile finishing chemicals (dyes, treatments) can affect leachate composition [12]