Veolia, in partnership with Watford Borough Council, is hosting a clothes swap event on Saturday 19 September at Watford Palace Theatre, WD17 1JZ.
The event will celebrate Recycle Week, the UK’s largest annual event aimed at promoting recycling and the reduction of waste.
The clothes swap will run from 10am to 12pm, giving residents the chance to refresh their wardrobes without buying new. Residents are invited to attend the event at the following times:
- From 10am to 10:45am: residents can drop off up to 10 unwanted, adult-sized, good quality items of clothing.
- From 11am - 12pm: the clothes swap will begin and residents can shop for new-to-them clothing.
To ensure a high quality and enjoyable experience for all, residents are asked to follow the clothes swap guidelines:
- No accessories (e.g. bags, belts, jewellery)
- No nightwear, swimwear or underwear garments
- No children’s items or shoes
- No damaged items (including any shrunk, stained, or torn items, or those needing repair)
- All clothes must be clean and in good condition.
This initiative will take place during Recycle Week (14-20 September), an annual campaign run by The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to encourage people to recycle more of the right things, more often. The week provides an opportunity to reflect on how we can make more sustainable choices about the items we buy, use and dispose of.
Recent research* shows that 49% of used textiles in the UK are placed in general waste bins, with the average person throwing away an average of 35 items of unwanted clothing each year. Encouraging reuse is key to reducing this textile waste. Reusing and recycling clothes at events like this keeps clothes in use for longer, reduces the demand for new products, and supports circular fashion.
Any clothing left after the event will be donated to Goods for Good, a local charity partner that will rehome the clothing with people experiencing poverty, displacement, or crisis. For more information about the event and to book a ticket please visit: watford.gov.uk/clothesswap
Darren Harding, Regional Manager, Veolia Watford said: “Watford’s residents are already incredible recyclers, and this clothes swap is the perfect opportunity to take that even further. By swapping and reusing clothes, we’re helping our community minimise waste whilst updating their wardrobes. This event extends our sustainability efforts beyond delivering essential recycling and waste collections, street cleansing, and parks maintenance services, by helping residents reduce textile waste and embrace reuse in a fun and meaningful way.”
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: "National Recycle Week is a great opportunity to think differently about the items we no longer need and how they can be given a second life. Our clothes swap event encourages residents to refresh their wardrobes in a sustainable, affordable way while helping to reduce textile waste.
Every year, thousands of tonnes of clothing end up in landfill, yet many of these items are still in good condition and can be reused by someone else. By taking part, residents can make a small change that has a positive impact on both the environment and their community. We look forward to welcoming people to the event and showing how easy and rewarding it can be to reduce, reuse and recycle."
*All statistics have come from WRAP’s 2025 Textiles Research on UK Clothing Disposal Habits The event is being held at Watford Palace Theatre, Watford, WD17 1JZ. For more information on how to find the venue, visit watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/about-us
