WHERE DO I GO TO GET RID OF MY OLD CLOTHES?
The short on how to reduce, reuse and recycle your old clothes
PHOTos via google TEXT logan verlaque
The time has come. It may come with the change of seasons, the end of a relationship, or the start of a new job; the time to shed that unworn blazer, those once trotted in sandals, that one night out evening gown. This shedding now comes with a responsibility. Consumers throw away shoes and clothing [versus recycle], an average of 70 pounds per person, annually, and up to 95% of the textiles that end up in land fills each year could be recycled. We’ve gathered up the best ways you can make a difference in minimizing the waste we produce from clothing, shoes, and textiles.
Buy vintage, go thrifting
Instead of buying new clothing and adding to the textile waste stream, buy pre-loved and vintage clothing.
RESELL: THE REAL REAL, VESTIAIRE, POSHMARK
Do good and feel good. Resell the items in your closet that you’ve grown tired of, still have the price tag hanging from the collar, or are collecting dust in a storage space far, far away. Not only will this put some extra cash in your wallet, but will give some of your old pieces a second chance at a life. Take them to your local consignment shop, or sell them online at places like The Real Real, Vestiaire Collective, or Poshmark. Additionally, there is a new platform, My Wardrobe HQ, that allows you to rent out (say you don’t wear that hand-me-down coat anymore, but can’t part with it or your mom will kill you!) your items straight from your closet.
DONATE
Let’s face it, some of our clothes are too worn to resell. But that does not mean they should just be thrown into the trash. Several retailers (including H&M’s Garment Collection Program, Patagonia’s Worn Wear, and the North Face’s Clothes in the Loop) are now accepting clothing donations at select locations and will give donators a discount on a future purchase. Nike’s Reuse a Shoe and associated Grind program encourages you to donate any pair of sneakers and they will take them and reuse the materials for new shoes. Blue Jeans Go Green organizes denim drives and partners with select denim retailers to encourage you to donate your old jeans, which will then be used for insulation in poor communities.
REUSE
For the items too past their prime to even donate, old t-shirts, ratty dresses, hole-y cotton shorts? Cut ‘em up and use them as cleaning rags and wash cloths!
RECYCLE
You may have textile recycling bins in your neighborhood or at your local farmers market. Goodwill and The Salvation Army will take even non-wearable items, just label your donations as “RECYCLE,” and they will send them off to their partnering recyclers. But if you still aren’t sure about where to go, the below places are good bets.
Terracycle Fabrics and Clothing Zero Waste Box: This online platform allows you to purchase a box, fill it with any textile or fabric based products, and ship it off to either be reused, upcycled or recycled.
The Bra Recyclers: These guys will find a way to recycle, reuse or repurpose bras. All you have to do is wash your old bras, fill out an online form for paid postage, and send them off!
Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles: An online platform that will help you find the nearest textile recycling outlets near you.
Additionally, several animal shelters are open to accepting old towels, sheets, blankets, comforters, and pillowcases for furry friends.
Blue Jeans Go Green denim about to be recycled into insulation.
Nike Grind materials recycled from their Reuse a Shoe program.