A specialist in sorting and logistics for end-of-life apparel and footwear, Canadian company Debrand, has launched its first US textile sorting facility in Columbus, Ohio. 

This new 32,000-sq-ft facility aims to enhance North America's textile recycling infrastructure by responding to increasing demands from brands and local governments for more sustainable disposal options. The facility features both automated and AI-enabled sorting equipment alongside traditional hand-sorting techniques.

Debrand already operates a similar facility in Vancouver, Canada, and subcontracts sorting operations from WM in Arizona and South Carolina. The company views Columbus as an ideal location due to its proximity to numerous well-known clothing brands, thus reducing shipping distances for processing. 

Driven by interest from chemical recyclers and potential state textile EPR policies, Debrand expects the North American textile recycling market to grow. Currently, the region has limited facilities to process textile waste. However, the volume of garments produced each year is becoming insurmountable, says Amelia Eleiter, CEO and Co-founder of Debrand. She emphasises on the need for more regional solutions to address this issue at scale.

The US Government Accountability Office recently also highlighted the need for innovating textile recycling in the city to make the process more effective and accessible. Debrand has already diverted over 4.5 million pounds of textile waste from disposal in the last 18 months, working directly with brands to manage unsellable items and find buyers for resale markets.

Debrand's Ohio facility will combine human sorters with advanced technology, including AI-powered systems that collect data on items and brands to determine the best recycling or resale options. The company is also exploring partnerships in chemical recycling, such as a pilot with Eastman to recycle 5,000 pounds of textiles into recycled fiber.