This is how new life is breathed into old clothes
From Felix Hallinger
SALZBURG24 visits the PAP team directly at the headquarters in Schwarzach and meets with Managing Director Martina Simoncic for a conversation. “500 tons of old clothes donate every year from Pongau residents,” says the social worker. The textiles are handed in directly to the goods receiving department in Schwarzach or in one of the 68 collection containers throughout the district. “Above all, it is important that the garment is well packed. Otherwise the textiles get wet, dirty and therefore unfortunately unusable, ”emphasizes Simoncic.
Second-hand clothing at great prices
The containers are emptied regularly and the PAP employees sort the old clothes in Schwarzach. High-quality pieces are offered for sale in the five shops in Bad Gastein, Schwarzach, St. Johann, Bischofshofen and Radstadt. The stores offer a wide range of second-hand goods, from baby clothing and winter jackets to traditional costume fashion. You can also find used furniture, toys and decorative items in the shops. The savings compared to buying a new one can sometimes amount to up to 80 percent. “We are not a classic social market”, Simoncic clarifies during our visit, “Anyone who likes to buy cheaply and sustainably can come to us.”
Social and sustainable across Salzburg
In most of the other districts of the country there are also such initiatives: The “Job Offensive Pinzgau”, the “Halleiner Arbeitsinitiative”, as well as “TAO & Mode Circel” and the “Carla-Shops” of Caritas in the city of Salzburg and in Flachgau. These projects are based on a similar principle as the PAP. They are funded by the State of Salzburg and the labor market service and offer temporary employment contracts for long-term unemployed in order to reintegrate them into the labor market. Martina Simoncic continues in an interview with SALZBURG24: “PAP is a non-profit company. Every form of profit is paid back to our sponsors. ”In this respect, the used clothing collection in the state is not only organized sustainably, but also socially. “In the end, everyone benefits from it,” sums up the managing director.
Creative upcycling for old fabrics
Only around ten percent of the used clothing donated meet the high quality standards for sales. But the remaining part of the donations will also be a circular economy, assures Simoncic and guides us in the PAP’s own creative workshop. Workshop manager Daniela shows us some creative uses of textiles: towels are turned into bags, clothes into furniture upholstery and currently decorative poinsettias are made from donated materials. Compared to SALZBURG24, she explains the advantages of the initiative: “Because of the temporary workforce, there are always new heads with new ideas in the workshop.” However, some of the textiles handed in are not suitable for such work either. In order to make these materials usable, the projects work together with various bulk buyers. The leftover fabrics and garments are used in a variety of ways. For example, filling material for car seats can be made from such scraps, explains Simoncic.
Sustainable collection of used clothes in your area
If you are also currently looking for inexpensive winter fashion or sustainable recycling options for your old clothes, you can find out about the locations of containers and stores on the websites of the initiatives in your district:
(Source: SALZBURG24 reader reporter)