Cáritas Koopera warned on 15 September 2026 of localised overflows at its clothing banks in Asturias . According to the organisation, the volume of textiles deposited has risen significantly in several municipalities it serves since municipal donation drop-off points were removed. If the trend continues, some locations could face short-term capacity constraints.
The statement, reported by Europa Press on the same day, says there have been no widespread disruptions. However, donations are being redirected to the remaining containers, leading to notable concentrations. Cáritas Koopera is therefore asking the municipalities concerned to coordinate more closely on collection schedules, consider relocating sites or adding containers where necessary, and provide clear information to the public to prevent illegal dumping beside collection containers.
The organisation cites the logistics of collection and sorting, as well as the employment of people in integration programmes linked to the collection network. In the view of circular economy regular collections and sufficient capacity are essential to ensure wearable clothing is reused rather than ending up in bulky waste. Capacity risks are greatest in urban areas with high donation volumes. Examples include Gijón and Lugones, where the density of drop-off points recently exceeded the regional average.
Background: On 25 June 2026, Cáritas Koopera had already published its 2025 figures for Asturias, emphasising the importance of the existing infrastructure of containers and Second-hand shops for social integration and reuse. At the time, it reported collecting just over 2,034 tonnes of textiles. According to Cáritas Koopera, the current warning about possible overflows responds to recent changes to collection points in some municipalities and to recent counts of donated volumes.
It is unclear how the municipalities concerned will respond. Decisions on adding containers, changing collection vehicle routes or making new agreements with waste companies and social enterprises are still pending. Statements about possible further developments are clearly presented as projections and depend on donation volumes and municipal decisions. Cáritas Koopera says it wants to adjust existing capacity in dialogue with municipalities to ensure continuous collection, orderly reuse and stable jobs in social integration.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).