Fire service raises £7,000 by recycling clothes

East Sussex residents who donated their clothes helped raise over £7,000

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS) has thanked the public for helping it raise more than £7,000 for charity by recycling clothes.

The Fire Fighters Charity has generated £956,000 by collecting over 4,700 tonnes of clothing in the last 12 months across the UK.

The charity, which supports serving and retired firefighters, recently announced the news of King Charles III accepting patronage.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "You are all helping us raise vital funds for our charity, whilst re-diverting this clothing away from landfill to be re-used or recycled."

'Fantastic total'

The donations to the clothing banks, which are located at various East Sussex fire stations, were collected by the charity and sorted into wearable and unwearable categories.

Wearable clothes are sold on to be re-used often in other countries. Unwearable clothes are used by industry and could end up, for example, as car upholstery.

ESFRS highlighted how "members of the public have played a big part" in helping to achieve its "fantastic total".

The charity said it receives £170 per tonne from the clothing banks at fire stations.

Doug Marshall, the charity's ESFRS representative, said the "local support has been fantastic".

He added: "Well done to all stations who have been proactive in getting the message out there.

"We hope the upcoming holidays spark another clear out for people to take items to their local station clothing bank, and continue to support those in need.”

Kevin Biles, recycling manager for The Fire Fighters Charity, thanked "all fire stations across East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service" and members of the public who support the charity "through donating their unwanted clothing".

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