Residents in parts of Devon may notice changes to their local textile bank service, as twenty-seven Salvation Army banks are due to be removed at the end of January 2026.
Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL), on behalf of its parent charity, has worked in partnership with the Devon Authorities since 2016 to provide a textile recycling service across Devon. A recent SATCoL statement explains the reasons:
“Following a strategic review of our clothing bank network in response to changing market conditions, and to ensure long-term sustainability and responsible stewardship of donations, we are adjusting our clothing bank network. This change will enable us to use our resources more effectively to manage the unsustainable volumes of used textiles across the UK.
“As part of this review, a number of clothing banks will be removed. However, many other banks remain available for public use, and we continue to expand our network of more than 250 charity stores. These changes allow us to maximise fundraising capabilities, minimise costs, and redirect resources to other impactful reuse and recycling services.
“We are grateful for the continued support from members of the public, our donors and partners. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and encourage customers and donors to locate their nearest donation point and store using our easy-to-use map finder: Find Us – Salvation Army”
The review follows a difficult period in the global textile market, which has been struggling for several years. Fast fashion, and now ultra-fast fashion, has flooded the textile market with low quality and low value garments. It’s estimated that more than two tonnes of clothing are bought each minute in the UK, more than any other country in Europe. That amount produces nearly 50 tonnes of carbon emissions, the same as driving 162,000 miles in a car. In one month alone, the carbon footprint of new clothes bought in the UK was greater than flying a plane around the world 900 times (Oxfam).
Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, vice Chair of the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee, said:
“The rise in cheap, low quality clothing is causing a huge problem for the second hand textile industry and the environment. We have worked with SATCoL for many years and understand the difficulties of the textile markets. It is disappointing to lose thetextile banks but we support their decision to scale back. The future of second hand textiles is looking challenging but we, as consumers, have the power to make a difference by making more environmentally sustainable choices every time we buy new clothing. Even better, we can choose to buy less and make the most of the clothes we already have.”
Given that the average UK adult has upwards of 118 items of clothing in their wardrobe, and a quarter of those items have not been worn for at least a year (WRAP), the first question to ask is whether we really need to buy anything new at all. Instead, can we utilise the clothes we already own by repairing or altering them? Refresh your wardrobe without the hefty price tag by swapping items you no longer wear with friends or buying and selling via online second hand platforms. Another option is to organise a clothes swap with friends and/or family – for more information and to borrow a clothes swap kit, visit the Recycle Devon website.
Clothing that needs repairing can be taken to a local Repair Cafe, where volunteers can undertake basic repairs such as sewing on buttons, mending holes, fixing hems etc for free, although a small donation is welcome. A map of Repair Cafes can be found on the Recycle Devon website.
Residents impacted by the service changes can recycle their textiles as follows:
- Find an alternative textile bank using the Recycle Now locator
- Take textiles to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre
- Many high street clothing retailers provide textile recycling facilities in-store – check with your nearest store for more information
- Donate to your local charity shop – please check beforehand that they are accepting donations.
- Arrange a doorstep collection from Anglo
- Some local councils accept small amounts of textiles in the household recycling collection service. Please check here to see what your council accepts.
For more information about reducing, reusing and recycling in Devon visit www.recycledevon.org.uk.
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*Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Commitee which is made up of 10 Devon councils: Exeter City Council Devon County Council Torbay Council North Devon Council East Devon District Council Torridge District Council Teignbridge District Council Mid Devon District Council South Hams District Council West Devon Borough Council.
The following banks will be removed:
| West Devon: |
| Hatherleigh Car Park, Knights Court, Off Bridge Street, Hatherleigh |
| Torridge: |
| Well Car Park, Western Road, Holsworthy |
| Bone Hill Car Park, St Theresa’s Court, Off Lakenham Hill, Northam |
| Churchfields Car Park, Churchfields, Appledore |
| Central/Main Car Park ,Central Car Park, Westward Ho! |
| Torbay: |
| Walls Hill Car Park, Walls Hill Road, Babbacombe,Torquay |
| Lower Union Lane Car Park, Lower Union Lane, Temperance Street, Torquay |
| Colin Road Car Park, Colin Road, Paignton |
| Little Theatre Car Park, St Marks Road, Torquay |
| Teignbridge: |
| The Strand Car Park, The Strand, Starcross |
| Sandy Lane Car Park, Sandy Lane, Dawlish |
| Barton Hill Car Park, Barton Hill, Dawlish |
| Lower Ness Car Park, Ness Drive, Shaldon |
| Jack’s Patch Garden Centre, Teignmouth Road, Bishopsteignton |
| Court Street Car Park, Betton Way, Moretonhampstead |
| Dawlish Warren Car Park, Beach Road, Dawlish Warren |
| Main Car Park, Off B3387,Widecombe-in-the-Moor |
| Mid Devon: |
| William Street Car Park, William Street, Tiverton |
| North Devon: |
| Caen Street Car Park, Caen Street Car Park, Braunton |
| Central Car Park, Mill Street, South Molton |
| Car Park, Jones’s Hill, Croyde Bay |
| Exeter: |
| County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter |
| Dunsford Road/Barley Lane, Alphington, Exeter |
| Exwick Road/Foxhayes Road |
| Stratton Court/Quarry Lane |
| Mile Lane/Beacon Lane, Exeter |
| East Devon: |
| Dolphin Street/Station Road, Umbourne Bridge, Colyton |