The UAE throws away around 220,000 tonnes of textiles every year, and most of it ends up in landfill.
To tackle the issue, the country has launched a new initiative called Naseej, making it easier for residents to recycle unwanted clothes and fabrics. The move supports the UAE’s goal of diverting 80% of waste away from landfills by 2031.
Your old clothes might soon have a second life
That T-shirt sitting at the back of your wardrobe or the jeans you haven’t worn in years could soon be helping the UAE achieve one of its biggest sustainability goals.
The country has launched Naseej, a new textile recycling initiative aimed at reducing the massive amount of clothing and fabric waste ending up in landfills every year.
The announcement comes as the UAE pushes ahead with its environmental targets, including a goal to divert 80% of waste away from landfills by 2031.
And while recycling plastic bottles and cardboard has become fairly common, textiles remain one of the biggest waste challenges both locally and globally.
Why is textile waste becoming such a big issue?
Most people don’t think twice before throwing away old clothes. But when millions of people do the same thing every year, the numbers quickly add up.
According to figures shared during the launch, residents across the UAE discard around 220,000 tonnes of textiles annually. From unwanted clothing and shoes to household fabrics, much of it currently ends up buried in landfill sites.
Speaking during the launch, Tadweer Group CEO Etienne Petit said textile recycling remains extremely limited, with the majority of discarded fabrics never making it back into the recycling cycle.
The challenge isn’t just the amount of waste. It’s also how it’s disposed of.
Once clothes are mixed with food scraps and general household rubbish, they become much harder to recycle. That’s why proper sorting and collection play such an important role.
The UAE is planning to close 11 landfill sites
The textile recycling drive is only one part of a much bigger picture.
Etienne Petit revealed that the UAE plans to close 11 landfill sites over the next three years as authorities continue expanding recycling and waste recovery programmes.
The long-term target is ambitious: divert 80% of waste away from landfills by 2031.
To achieve that, authorities are focusing on creating separate waste streams and improving recycling infrastructure across different sectors, including textiles.
For residents, that means more opportunities to recycle items that would previously have been thrown away.
How will the Naseej programme work?
The initiative is designed to be simple and accessible.
At the launch event in Yas Mall, visitors were introduced to special Naseej collection bags that can be used to gather unwanted clothing and textiles at home.
Once filled, residents can scan a QR code and arrange collection.
Items that are still wearable may be redirected for donation or reuse, while others can enter recycling streams where materials are recovered and repurposed.
The initiative already has support from 14 private-sector partners, including retailers and manufacturers, who will help expand collection efforts across the country.
More than recycling — it’s about creating value
Officials say textile waste should no longer be viewed as just rubbish.
Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said the thousands of tonnes of discarded textiles generated every year could become a valuable resource for new industries.
Recovered materials could eventually be used in manufacturing, industrial production and even construction-related applications.
It’s a key part of the UAE’s circular economy vision, where materials stay in use for longer instead of being discarded after a single use.
How can UAE residents get involved?
For most residents, the biggest change is awareness.
The success of programmes like Naseej depends on households separating unwanted clothing from regular rubbish and choosing recycling or donation options whenever possible.
It may seem like a small step, but when hundreds of thousands of tonnes of textiles are being discarded every year, those choices can make a significant difference.
As the UAE continues investing in sustainability projects, textile recycling is expected to become a much more visible part of everyday life.
FAQ’s
Q: What is Naseej?
A: Naseej is a new UAE initiative focused on collecting, reusing and recycling unwanted clothes and textiles instead of sending them to landfill.
Q: How much textile waste does the UAE generate each year?
A: Around 220,000 tonnes of textile waste are discarded annually across the UAE.
Q: What is the UAE’s landfill reduction target?
A: The country aims to divert 80% of waste away from landfills by 2031.
Q: How can residents participate?
A: Residents can use Naseej collection bags and designated collection systems to recycle unwanted textiles.
Q: Why is textile recycling important?
A: It helps reduce landfill waste, conserves resources and supports the UAE’s sustainability goals.
The UAE’s latest recycling initiative is a reminder that sustainability isn’t only about major infrastructure projects. Sometimes it starts with something as simple as an old shirt sitting in a wardrobe.
With Naseej now underway and landfill reduction targets becoming more ambitious, residents will have a bigger role to play in helping the country move towards a more circular and sustainable future.
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