Norway post-consumer non-garment household textiles: data and images of samples from donations and discards

Attribute dataset and images of socks and household textile samples in Norwegian post-consumer sorted textile streams. The sampes are collected in a sorting campaign June-August 2025 analysing post-consumer sorted textile streams. Garment samples are reported elsewhere. In this data repository we focuse on socks and non-garment household textiles found in the post-consumer textile streams. 816 socks of Trondheim - repository elements The data describes 816 socks found in post-consumer textile sorted streams in Trondheim. The dataset contains attributes and images of all samples. See README in dataset and data analysis report for further details. The sock repository contains contains the following elements: Attribute dataset for 816 socks as MS Excel, including README: TrondheimSocks.xlsx. Imagery of individual socks in the sample set: Images_TrondheimSocks.zip. Analysis: Socks of Trondheim - data analysis.pdf. The attribute dataset for socks describes: weight; color; number of holes; thick/thin category; degree-of-wear; presence of price tag; and whether socks are sorted properly into donation for reuse, or as textile waste not for reuse. Degree-of-wear according to Sunde et al (2023). Imagery is simple photograph of the sample. Image is repeated when samples are from the same pair. Some insights from data analysis: 816 socks is equal to 14.9 kg, found among 1012 kg textiles (garments and non-garments) delivered to central recycling facility in Trondheim, Norway (TRV Heggstadmoen), and sorted by households into textile waste (not for reuse) and textile donations (for reuse). Average sock weight is 18.2 grams, median weight 14.2 grams. Approximately 60% of socks are considered to have a degree-of-wear in category 4 and 5, meaning they only have minor marks of use. Two out of three socks in Trondheim are in the color regime from white-to-black. Most of the socks are discarded with no holes. Slightly more than 7 of 10 are sorted as textile waste not for reuse, still only 10% have holes. 763 kg household non-garment textiles - repository elements The household textiles described in the dataset appear from a sample analysis of post-consumer household textiles received as sorted donations and (dry and clean) textile waste not for reuse in three locations in Norway; Trondheim (textile waste, and donations for reuse, operated by TRV), Ålesund (textile waste, operated by Attvin), and Sandnes (textile waste, operated by IVAR). See README in dataset and data analysis report for further details. The household textiles repository contains contains the following elements: Attribute dataset for 763 kg (2328 items) as MS Excel, including README: HouseholdTextiles.xlsx. Imagery of textile samples, as Images_HouseholdTextiles.zip. Analysis: Norwegian Household Textiles - data analysis.pdf. Samples undergo visual inspection of garment and product care label, and individual garment photography. The dataset product attributes include: product category; weight; a five-level score for degree-of-wear; brand; manufacturing method; several other attributes that are numerical (velcro, metal and plastic buttons, metal and plastic zippers, metal rivets/eyelets/aglets, pearls, reflectors, and holes front and total) or Boolean (sequins, print, print >100 cm2, other product parts, care label presence and readability, home-made, price tag). Care label information is used to record year and country of production, and fiber blend for individual layers of the item. Degree-of-wear according to Sunde et al (2023). Imagery is simple photograph of the sample. Some images include several samples. Not all samples have image. A total of 35 household textile product categories, folllowing Nørup et al (2018), were identified: Bed sheet, Duvet, Duvet cover, Napkin, Blanket, Pillow, Pillow case, Towel, Mattress cover, Rug, Curtains, Bathroom mat, Tablecloth (norsk - duk), Dish towel, Cloth (norsk - klut), Decorations/interior, Ribbon, Mop, Potholder, Shower curtain, Sponge, Tote bags and purses, Place mat, Backpacks and bags, Household - Other, Animal equipment, Building materials, Children's equipment and toys, Fabric more than 1m^2, Fishing gear, Furniture textiles, Outdoor/sports equipment, Rope, Wallet, Yarn. Some insights from data analysis: Non-garment household textiles were separated from the full post-consumer sorted streams. In the four streams analyzed, household textiles, excluding waste, socks, shoes and garments, represent 13-33% depending on location and stream, with an average of 20% over all locations. Average weight of product and stream composition varies largely within product types and streams. Certain product types are generally disposed in a reusable state, such as yarn, mops and toys. Others are rarely considered discarded in a status that suits second use, such as animal equipment, and dish towels. Fiber composition is recorded for samples based on declarations on care labels. Across all product types, fiber data is reported for 42% of items. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sorting, attribute registration and photography by: Bettina Amundsen Hermanrud, Silje Barstad Alnes, Sunneva Grooss Gunnarsdottir, Anniken Rode Øyno, Eirik Kristoffer Endresen, Marianne Dretvik, Oda Natalie Brunstad, Sara Marlene Nystrøm Olsen, Ronja Røli Ansnes, Victoria Olajumoke Obanla, and Vanessa Peña Benítez. Contact persons and partner institutions: Natalie Østrem in Attvin and Kristina Kjersem from NTNU Ålesund, Anita Austigard in IVAR, and Arvid Johansen in Trondheim renholdsverk (TRV). The work is co-funded by Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund project Sirkulær Plast, Redu – the internship program of Sirk Norge (The Norwegian Recycling and Circular Economy Organisation), Attvin AS and IVAR IKS. Karl Klingsheim has been responsible for funding acquisition, partner outreach, and project management. Contact person for questions: Johan Berg Pettersen, [e-mail]