Cheap clothes culture blamed for more material in landfill sites

It has been discovered that more and more cheap clothes made from difficult-to-break-down fibres are being worn for short amounts of time before being disposed of at landfill sites.

This is the claim of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, which conducted a study into the matter.

It found that textile waste at council tips has increased from 7 to 30 per cent over the last five years.

Conservative MP Michael Jack stated: "The whole notion of throwaway fashions needs to be re-examined. People may want something that is fashionable, but they should be thinking about whether what they are buying will last."

Shops such as Asda and Primark that sell clothes for heavily discounted prices are contributing to the problem, say some ministers.

Despite this news, British Environment Agency figures revealed this week that generally, there was less waste being sent to landfill sites last year than in 2001.