while most textiles can be recycled, in the main they are downgraded almost immediately into low-quality end-uses, such as filling materials. the limited range of recycled materials available reflects the market dominance of cheap virgin fibres and the lack of technological innovation in the recycling industry. for 200 years recycling technology has stayed the same; fibres are extracted from used fabric by mechanically tearing the fabric apart using carding machines. the process breaks the fibres, producing much shortened lengths that tend to make a low quality yarn. textiles made from synthetic fibres can also be recycled chemically in a process that involves breaking down the fibre at the molecular level and then repolymerizing the feedstock. while chemical recycling is more energy intensive than mechanical pulling, the resulting fibre tends to be of more predictable quality. the most commonly available recycled synthetic fibre is polyester made from plastic bottles, although recycled nylon is also available