Reusing or recycling unwanted clothes could save the taxpayer £1.5 million a year as well as reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill.

Braintree Council is currently trialling a six month kerbside textile collection system at around 8,000 properties across the district.

If the scheme, which started in December, proves popular it could be rolled out across the area as soon as the summer.

According to Recycle for Essex, each household in the county throws away the equivalent of 36 woolly jumpers every year and so a new campaign has launched to reduce this amount.

Simon Walsh, Essex County Councillor responsible for environment and waste, said: "If you no longer want a particular item or outfit, it’s likely someone else will.

"Unwanted clothes can be resold, rejuvenated, given to friends and family, recycled or given to charity.

“In Essex, all clean clothing and textiles can be recycled, and it’s never been easier for households with kerbside collections.

“If you are not able to use kerbside collections, there are more than 150 textile banks across Essex, including those at Recycling Centres, which can take good quality clothing, as well as clean, worn out clothes which could be ripped or even have holes in it.”

Recycled textiles can be reused or made into new material.

To find out more go to www.recycleforessex.com or www.loveyourclothes.org.uk.