Refuse to do needlework a long time (6)
I believe the answer is:
sewage
'refuse' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'do needlework a long time' is the wordplay.
'do needlework' becomes 'sew' (I've seen this before).
'a long time' becomes 'age' (an age is a period of time).
'sew'+'age'='SEWAGE'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for sewage that I've seen before include "Waste water, etc" , "Refuse for drains" , "Refuse carried off through drainage system" , "Waste matter carried away in drains" , "Waste flowing in pipes" .)