3.10 TEXTILES. NC Recyding Market Development Strategic Plan Project Recydable Materials Market Assessment Report UNGITRE

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Madeleine Johnston
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1 3.10 TEXTILES Description The general category of textiles inchdes woven or knitted cotton. wool, polyester. spthctic and synthetic-blend products, and stuffing products. Textile wastes are generated both industrially and through consumer use. End users, processors, brokers and handlers identified through the O W Recycler Database arc listed in Figures and mapped in Figures and In all, there are 28 textile recycling businesses in North Carolina. Taking into account that many of these companies perform more than one recycling function, there is a total of eight companies that serve as end users, 17 with processing facilities, 14 as brokers and 16 as handlers Market Structure After collection, scrap textiles generally go through a grading process during whlch textile scraps are separated and assessed as to their value. Large textile scraps that are clean and in good condition usually receivea higher grade than small, dirty scraps. High-grade scraps can be sold to an end user and/or processor at a greater value than low-grade scrap. Owing to the tedious nature of hand sorting large quantities of wastes, scrap textiles are often shipped to third world countries that provide attractive, low cost labor forces. Processors, brokers and handlers generally collect from small and medium-size mills. They prefer to receive shipments or pick up goods on a regular basis but will accept one-time or irregular spot shipments. Transportation of waste textiles can be economically problematic for the textile recycling companies. Because textiles are light in relation to the space they consume, shipping loose textiles is inefficient. Generally, waste textiles are compacted previous to shipment to increase the amount of scrap that can be transported in one haul. Compacting waste textiles is essential for overseas shipping. One hindrance to waste textile recycling businesses is that shipments of industrial scrap may contain trash and other obsolete products, according to a processor of textile wastes located in Burlington. NC. He explains that increased tipping fees for the state s landfills could result in the inclusion of trash products in textile shipments. By diverting their non-textile wastes from landfilis to scrap recyclers. textile industries could avoid local disposal costs. Some textile wastes cannot be processed in the United States because of labeling restrictions. By law, textile manufacturers are required to identify the contents of their products. Because the components of textile scrap are not always possible to determine, these scraps cannot be marketed domestically and are often shipped to other countries with less stringent regulations Markets Serving North Carolina According to information gathered through the OWR Recycler Database, there are eight end users of textile wastes in North Carolina. Four end usen are located in the Mountain region, and four are located in the Pledmont region. These end users often receive supplies directly from the industries that generate waste tex ti lqs End markets to be discussed in this report are table linens, rewind yam. hand-woven rugs, Dupont polyester wood pulp sheets, wiping cloths and rags. Due to the competitive nature of the textile recycling business, many of these companies released information on an anonymous basis. Other markets that exist in North Carolina include stuffing. paper, carpet underlay and socks. UNGITRE NC Recyding Market Development Strategic Plan Project Recydable Materials Market Assessment Report Pap

2 Table Linem. The O W Recycler Database idenrifies one manufacturer of table linens in the Piedmont repon of North Carolina that consumes texrile ua5tes. A company spokesperson explains that these table linens contain polyester, virgin cotton and 10 percent recycled material. The company does nor plan to increase its consumption of secondary material. Rpwind Yarn. One company located in NC's Mountain repon that produces rewind yam is identified hrough the O W Recycler Database as an end user of yam scrap. According to a company spokesperson. h s rewind yard contains 95 percent yarn scraps. All of the yarn wastes consumed in production are generated w i h North Carolina. Total consumption quantities of raw material are unavailable. The company currently has no plans for expanded use of yarn scraps. Hand-WovenRugs. One manufacturer of hand-woven rugs located in the Mountain region of North Carolina is identified through the OWR Recycler Database as an end user of textile wastes. The rugs are produced from 100 percent textile scraps. According to a company spokesperson. of the 360 tons of textile wastes consumed each year, 85 percent is generated from wihn North Carolina. and the remainder is imported from adjacent states. The company has no plans for expansion. Dupont Pofyester Wood Pulp. According to the OWR Recycler Database, the one identified manufacturer of Dupont polyester wood pulp sheets is located in NC's Mountain region. Dupont polyester wood pulp sheets ace non-woven polyester cloths impregnated with wood pulp. This cloth is produced from 100 percent recycled materials and can be manufactured into disposable garments such as surgical gowns and gloves for the medical industry. Of the tons of waste textiles consumed each year, 95 percent is generated from within North Carolina. The company has no plans for expanding. Wiping Cloths and Rags. Five North Carolina companies are identified through the OWR Recycler Database as consuming textile wastes in the production of wiping cloths and rags. Three of these companies are located in the Mountain region. and two are located in the Piedmont region. While a majority of the textile wastes consumed by these companies is generated from within North Carolina. scrap materials are also imported from other states and countries. The wiping cloths and rags are produced from 100 percent recycled polycotton kmts, polycotton wovens. fleece, plywood pulp, denims, old t-shirts. cheesecloth and defective cloth. The value of textile wastes relative to the wiping cloth and rag market is determined by their quantity and quality. In general clean, absorbent textile scraps that are received in bulk are the most valuable. None of the manufacturers of wiping cloths and rags have plans for expansion. End- user markets for blankets, non-wovens. plastics. fine writing paper, auto bedding, padding. sanitary napkins, gauze. rope, twine. underlay for furniture. Band-Aids. gloves and latex are not known to exist in North Carolina. As a result, processors, brokers and handlers often market textile materials to other states and/or countries. The OWR Recycler Database identifies 18 processors of waste textiles throughout North Carolina. As shown in the previous figures. there are 12 processors in the Piedmont. five in the Mountain, and one in the Tidewater region. These processors perform one or more of the following functions: sorting and baling, removing yam from cones or paper cores, blending and cleaning. breaking down materials and tearing open fiber lines. Textile wastes are often processed through a gameter, or tearing machme. The material being processed is broken-down and combed with long needles to eliminate waste products. There are several different versions of the gameter machine with capacities varying between and 1O.ooO pounds per hour. -.- Paw NC Recyding Market Development Strateqic Plan Proiect UNClTRE Ae&dable Materials Market Assess&nt Report. 4/1/91

3 One processor of military surplus clothing, located in Jacksonville, is identified by the OWR Recycler Database. The company acquires clothing from nearby military bases, cleans and repairs it and sells it to end markets in North Carolina and in the northeastem states. Other outlets of used clothmg include Good Will Industries and the Salvation Army. NC processors receive their material from a variety of US and international sources. They may receive shipments from brokers and handlers or directly f factories. While uansportation fees are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, the processor often arranges and pays for shipment of the waste textiles. Some processors export their recycled textile products to Europe, North Africa and Latin America for reprocessing into mattress batting, sleeping bag insulation and padding forjackets. One processor explains that it exports about half of its recycled textiles to Westem Europe, Latin America and Asia. While transportation fees are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, two of the processors say they usually pay for overseas shipping; two other processors say that they pay approximately 50 percent of the time. The OWR Recycler Database identifies 14 companies in the Piedmont region of North Carolina that provide brokering services. Of these brokers, 10 are located in the Piedmont region. three are locaied in the Mountain region, and one is located in the Tidewater region. One broker contacted explains that it collects 80 percent of the scrap textiles (cotton, hosiery, synthetic, thread, wool and yam wastes) from waste generators within North Carolina. The remainder of textile scraps marketed by this company are gathered from neighboring states. There are 16 handlers of textile wastes in North Carolina. Ten of these handlers are located in the Piedmont region, five are located in the Mountain region, and one is located in the Tidewater region. North Carolina handlers contacted receive most of their waste materials from domestic textile mills and neighboring states. One Asheville handler, for example, specifies that he accumulates scrap textiles (hosiery mill waste, wiping cloths and non-wovens) from within a 100-mile radius. These handlers generally sell their textile wastes to the shoddy industry (which manufactures low quality fabric stuffing from wholly or partly reclaimed wool), the yarn industry, and the arts and crafts indusaies. Handlers are charged freight on delivery (FOD) for the scrap textiles that they receive Conclusion The textile scrap that is recycled in North Carolina is generated primarily from the manufacturers of textile products. These scraps are collected, graded (sorted and assessed for value), and sold to domestic and out-of-state and foreign markets. None of the textile recyclers contacted has plans to expand its operations. Market conditions for textile scrap depend on the condition of the scraps being sold. High-grade textile waste is valuable and is in high demand. Low-grade scrap can contain unusable products and can be difficult to market. Because demand for textiles is relatively constant, only mild price fluctuations occur. There are several obstacles to the recycling of textiles. The scrap collected by textile recyclers may contain industrial wastes and trash products. This is a problem that could effect North Carolina since industrial generators might include other wastes products in their scrap textile shipments in order to avoid the tipping fees from disposing of these wastes at locd landfills. Another market limitation for textile waste recyclers is the lack of end users in North Carolina. While North Carolina provides a strong end-user market for textile wastes used to produce table linens, rewind yam, hand-woven rugs, dupont polyester wood pulp, and wiping cloths and rags, there are no in-state end markets for materials used to produce blankets, non-wovens. plastics. fine writing paper, auto bedding, padding, sanitary napkins, gauze, rope, twine, underlay for furniture. Band-Aids, gloves and latex. UNGITRE 4/1/91 NC Recyding Market Development Strategic Plan Project Recyclable Materials Market Assessment Report Page

4 Transportation is a major economic drawback to the recycling industry. Because scrap textile is light relative to the space it consumes, it is usually condensed for shipping. Densifying textile wastes increases the amount of scraps that can be hauled and is essential for long distance marketing. According to recycling officials contacted, many textile recyclers avoid tugh transportation costs by purchasing their textiles from nearby sources. Manufacturers of products using scrap textiles in the state are not planning to increase their demand for material unless demand for their products increase. This is not foreseen because of the current recessionq environment and the impact hgh gas prices have on production costs. Most of the end users interviewed are small, privately-held companies that employ staffs of less than 100 people. Any expansion of their business would result in modest staff increases at best. Page NC Recyding Market Development Strategic P h Project UNCITRE Recydable Materials Market Assessment Report 4/1/91

5 FIGURE RECYCLING BUSINESSES ACCEPTING TEXTILE MATERIALS ENDUSERS - H 8 W Waste Co. (Burlington, NC) [PI - Cascade Fibers Co. (Sanford, NC) [PE] - J. G. Thompson Enterprises (Spindale, NC) [BHPEJ - - Halifax Recyding, Inc. (Roanoke Rapids, NC) [BPI - J 8 E Salvage (Jacksonville, NC) [BHP] - Jerry Russell Recycling (Star, NC) [HEJ - Newco Fibre Company (Charlot!e, NC) [BPI - Kmg s Kountty Klassics (Hendersonville, NC) [BHPE] - Sbsman Corp. (Asheville, NC) [PI - Sonoco.Produds Company (Hartsville, SC) [BHPE] - Sun Bel Recycling (Lexington. NC) [BPI - Sun Bel Textiles. Inc. (Kings Mountain, NC) [PE] HANDLERS - Sync01 Fhrs, Inc. (Charlotte, NC) [BHPE] - Bates Textile Sales, Inc. (Hamptonville, NC) [BH] - Textile Waste Company, Inc. (Pineville, NC) [BPE] - CISCO (Greensboro, NC) v ] - Tii-Mar, Inc. (Sheby, NC) [PEJ - Day Spring, Inc. (Lawrenceville, GA) [BH] PROCESSORS - Add Paper Cores (Rodtingham, NC) [HP] I - Belmont Wpmg Cbth Co. (Charlotte, NC) (PI - Edgecomb Recyding Corp. (Tarboro, NC) [BH] - Federal Waste Paper Co. (Burlington, NC) [HI - Feibus & Co., Inc. (Charlotte, NC) p] - BoUag International Cop. (Newell, NC) [BHP] - Bowers Fibers, Inc. (Charlotte, NC) [PI - Henry Fbers. Inc. (Gastonia, NC) [BH] - Isaac Gradman Co. (Asheville, NC) p] - Cathy Yam Co., Inc. (Mount Holly, NC) [HP] - J. E. Herndon Co. (Kings Mountain, NC) p ] - Eastern Carolina Vocational Center (GreenviUe, NC) PHP] -- - GDS Recycling Services (Conover, NC) [BHP] - Larry Davis Textile Division (Haw River, NC) [BH] - Paul Godwin Co., Inc. (Burlington, NC) [HI i [E = End User; P = Processor; H = Handler; B = Broker] UNCITRE NC Recyding Market Development Strategic Plan Project 4/1/91 Recydable Materials Market Report Page 3-108

6 Textiles (co nt'd) 9 BROKERS -, Ahr-Baugh. Inc. (Cramerlon, NC) [B] - Matthew P. McQuaid (31. (Charlotte, NC) [B] - Mqpo Products, Inc. (Charlotte, NC) [B] - Red Hill Cop. (Getlysburg, PA) p] 1 [E I End User; P = Processor; H = Handler; B = Broker] \r Page NC Recyding Market Development Strategic Plan Project UNCITRE Recydable Materials Market Assessment Rewrt 411 f91

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