Significance Sustained development is one of China's long-term strategies, and recycling and reuse of waste textile and clothing plays an important role in this policy. Recycling, sorting and reuse are main procedures for recycling and reuse of waste textile and clothing, and the ways to recycle and reuse waste textile and clothing influence the effect of recycling and reuse. This paper collates and reviews the current academic research and industry development in recycling and reuse of waste textile and clothing in detail, and expounds the whole recycling and reusing system of waste textile and clothing based circular economy 4R (reduce, reuse, recycle, remanufacture) principles aiming to enrich the theory and promote the high-value recycling and reuse of waste textile and clothing resources, hoping to realize efficient ecological economy.Progress The current situation of the recycling and reuse of waste textile and clothing in China and abroad, the recycling and reuse technical methods and the market system are reviewed. The recycling and reuse patterns of waste textile and clothing are various. Compared with some overseas developed countries, China has some shortages in public policy, enterprise leadership and the cooperation among organizations. Sorting technology and reuse technology are the core technology of the recycling and reuse of waste textile and clothing, among which sorting technology consists of artificial method, general qualitative and quantitative analysis methods, near infrared spectroscopy and other technologies, reusing technology mainly covers clean technology, physical reuse methods and chemical reuse methods. Artificial method is the most common sorting method. Physical loosening method and remelting processing method are common high value-added physical reuse methods. The industrial chain of recycling and reuse of waste textile and clothing starts from the end of the traditional textile and clothing industry chain, and ends with the recycling-reusing products. Two organizational operation forms are adopted for the recycling and reuse of waste textile and clothing. One is the reverse organization operation mode of enterprises, the other is the social network organization operation mode. Each mode has its advantages and disadvantages. This paper analyzes the recycling and reuse system of waste textile and clothing based on the 4R principle of circular economy. The "reduce" principle is the first choice for the textile and clothing industry to solve the resource and environmental problems.Conclusion and Prospect Recycling and reuse industry of waste textile and clothing is still in primary stage in China. It is still a long way for China to reach the level of developed countries. This paper proposes four suggestions for the future development in recycling and reuse waste textile and clothing in China. First, intensively cultivating second-hand textile and clothing market is essential, because second-hand textile and clothing market is valuable in recycling and reuse development. Second, standardizing recycling and reuse links is also important that could built standardization technical process and industry green assurance system. Third, focusing on core technology is also necessary. Technology development will greatly promote the recycling and reuse effect of waste textile and clothing industry. Beside all above, enhancing the awareness of resource recycling and reuse in all society is also a significant step by virtue of the fact that the improvement of the recycling-reusing awareness will help all recycling links become more active and initiative. In general, China needs to make suitable policies according to the national conditions to promote cooperation among all parties and organizations and scientific research activities to develop the waste textile and clothing industry. The social benefit of recycling and reuse of waste textile and clothing should be maximized, and the waste textile and clothing resources would be utilized profitably in ecology and economy ! © 2023 China Textile Engineering Society. All rights reserved.
