The Deeside-based Dee-Tex scheme, which has been operating for the past year, is a non-profit organisation and a member of Flintshire Local Voluntary Council.

Its aim is to provide a textile recycling industry in the local area and work in conjunction with charities such as Save the Family and Kit Out the Kids, as well as to combat bogus collectors who flood local areas with leaflets requesting unwanted clothing.

Dee-Tex is operated by volunteers and provides training and employment to Flintshire residents who may find themselves at a disadvantage, including those who have suffered long term unemployment, hard to reach young people, people with disabilities and mental health issues and people aged 50 and over.

The project initially offers work experience and the opportunity for training for those interested, and helps to increase their individual employment prospects.

This month, Dee-Tex has begun working alongside Flintshire primary schools as part of its new ‘Schools Choose to Re-use’ scheme and is encouraging them to set up their own textile recycling collection points, for pupils, teachers and residents in the area.

For every tonne of textiles that is collected, Dee-Tex gives the school £200, and from the bags collected from residents, the £200 per tonne will be split between the school and Save the Family.

Pupils at Southdown Primary School, Buckley, collected more than 500kg of old clothes last week, which raised £103 for school funds, and Brian McManus, Dee-Tex co-ordinator, says he is delighted with the positive response that the project has prompted.

He said: “We do not just sell the clothing on, we sort it and provide good quality children’s wear, bedding and even sleeping bags to homeless organisations and spare school uniforms to local schools. As we develop we are confident that we will find good homes for most of the stuff and usually get unwearable stuff in return, which we do sell on to allow us to return a value to the schools and generate funds to allow us to operate. Any surplus funds are invested back into the project to assist our development.

“The collection went really well for Southdown and we would like to thank the staff and pupils for really getting involved and supporting the collection.

“The response to participation in our project has been overwhelming and 100 per cent positive.”

The project is working alongside a number of schools across the county, including Ewloe Green Primary School, Bryn Deva Primary School, Connah’s Quay, Northop Hall Primary, Saltney under fives playgroup, Mountain Lane Primary School, Buckley and Gwynedd Primary School, Flint.

Dee-Tex has also been recently accepted as an Environment Wales registered project.