On Saturday, 19 October 2024, a Clothes Swap event was held at Watford Palace Theatre, organised by Veolia in partnership with Watford Borough Council. The event aimed to promote sustainable fashion by encouraging residents to swap clothes instead of buying new ones.
A total of 217 items were donated, and over 130 were exchanged during the event. All leftover clothing was given to the charity Goods for Good, ensuring items are saved from waste, and instead redirected to individuals and families in need.
Fast fashion has a large environmental impact due to the resources required to produce new clothing. By swapping clothes, participants contributed to reducing waste and lowering the demand for new items, helping to address this issue.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “The Clothes Swap event is a great example of how we can all take small, practical steps to reduce waste and live more sustainably. It was fantastic to see so many residents getting involved, supporting our local community, and helping the environment by reducing the impact of fast fashion. I look forward to seeing more events like this in the future.”
Andrew Reidy, General Manager for Veolia North London and Home Counties said: “Veolia is proud to deliver essential recycling and waste collections alongside streets, parks and open spaces maintenance in Watford. We consider ourselves part of the community we serve and initiatives such as this clothes swap support residents who are doing their bit to reduce waste whilst helping to deliver a more circular economy and sustainable future for everyone.”
Along with environmental partners, Veolia, Watford Borough Council continues to support initiatives that promote sustainability and raise awareness about the environmental effects of fast fashion.
If you would like to run your own Clothes Swap, please contact the our enquiries team (enquiries.watford@veolia.com) at Veolia who will be able to assist you.
