Do you have clothing that's just taking up space in your wardrobe?
Taking the time to recycle old clothes is an eco-friendly and incredibly rewarding way to keep your closet updated.
I was still wearing jeans and t-shirts from my college (yes...they did still - kind of - fit! ????) until Mrs. M taught me the art of donating, upcycling, and more.
Read on for the inspiration to start your journey toward a clean, tidy, and eco-friendly closet.
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Pact is on the lookout for your ghosts of outfits past. The ones you used to wear like there was no tomorrow but have taken a break from lately.
Its Give Back Box program aims to deliver quality unloved clothes (from any brand) to non-profits in need.
Donating is an easy (and completely free) three-step process:
Knickey made it onto my eco-friendly fashion brands list because of its commitment to sustainability...and this program is an excellent example of that.
By teaming up with SuperCircle, Knickey transforms your retired undergarments into innovative materials like insulation, carpet padding, and furniture batting.
You can send all kinds of undies, bras, socks, and tights for recycling. In return, Knickey will give you up to $15 off your next purchase. Win-win!
Gather your old clothes and order a recycling bag from Retold Recycling (prices apply).
When the bag arrives, stuff it full and drop it in the mail (using the pre-paid label included).
Retold Recycling guarantees that nothing from your Retold bag will end up in a landfill.
As one of the largest recyclers in the US, Goodwill proudly embraces a tradition of sustainability that dates back to the early 20th century.
In collaboration with local agencies, it strives to recycle and repurpose a wide array of materials, from electronics to books and textiles to plastic toys.
By diverting tens of millions of pounds from landfills each year, Goodwill leaves an enduring positive impact on the environment.
As a leading recycling company in the US, American Recyclers ensures easy access to their donation bins at local shopping malls, retail strip centers, apartment complexes, and community grocery stores in your neighborhood.
You can donate a wide range of items, including old clothes, shoes, socks, belts, scarves, hats, undergarments, and toys, all year round.
TerraCycle works globally to offer recycling options to as many individuals as possible.
Its Zero Waste Boxes is a paid service that allows you to conveniently pack up all your excess fabric, clothing, and textiles for recycling.
HELPSY is a for-profit Certified B Corporation on an ambitious environmental mission to revolutionize the perception of clothing recycling.
With over 2,200 collection containers, it proudly holds the title of the largest clothing collector in the Northeast US.
Check out this video for more details.
Established in 2010 by Kathleen Kirkwood (an ex-FORD Model now renowned as a QVC Intimates & Fashion Brand), B.R.A. has a twofold mission.
It promotes environmental sustainability by recycling bras into carpet padding as part of its green initiative and allocates the proceeds from metal underwire to support breast cancer research.
To obtain a free recycling label, simply text BRA to 79274.
If you're based in NYC (or visited on vacation), you've probably seen the green Wearable Collections trucks and recycling bins (drop boxes).
Wearable Collections has swiftly emerged as the preferred solution for New Yorkers seeking to part with unwanted clothing, shoes, and textiles.
By diverting over 95% of collected items from landfills, it grants millions of clothing pieces a valuable second chance at life.
Ready to say goodbye to your old bathing suit once it's no longer usable?
The Roundtrip initiative from Fair Harbor will take them off your hands and help reduce waterway waste.
Here's how it works:
You can then shop for some new organic swimwear to replace it!
Since launching in 2018, The Bra Recyclers has been committed to fostering a sustainable way of life that prioritizes positive social and environmental transformation.
With its innovative recycling and rewards initiatives, The Bra Recyclers specializes in offering sustainable solutions that minimize waste and cultivate a sense of responsibility and mindful consumption.
SCRAP is committed to preventing clothing from ending up in landfills and providing the optimal solution for repurposing unwanted textiles.
Since its establishment in 2020, SCRAP's ecosystem has expanded to include collection, sorting, sanitization, resale, recycling, and creating new products from discarded textiles.
Any donations unsuitable for recycling find purpose as stuffing or insulation, ensuring that none of your garments contribute to landfill waste.
Donation centers do not accept worn bras, resulting in a pile-up of donated bras in landfills.
Disposing of bras sustainably is challenging due to their complex construction involving over 30 components.
But, with Recycle, Bra from Harper Wilde, you can recycle bras and underwear from any brand.
For $20, For Days will send you a Take Back Bag to recycle any clothes from any brand (washed and clean), sheets, towels, and fabric scraps.
When ordering your Take Back Bag, you'll get $20 credit to spend on new sustainable clothes.
Visit any Madewell store and take along your pre-loved jeans (from any brand).
Through its partnership with Cotton's Blue Jeans Go Green program, Madewell will upcycle them into housing insulation for communities in need.
And, as a token of gratitude, you'll also get a $20 discount toward a new pair of Madewell jeans.
Nike stores generally accept athletic sneakers from any brand for recycling or donating. However, please note that they do not take sandals, dress shoes, boots, or shoes with metal components such as cleats or spikes.
Also, a limited number of Nike stores accept athletic tops or bottoms from any brand. However, they do not accept socks, underwear, or clothing with metal fittings like snaps, zippers, or buttons.
I recommend reaching out to your local Nike store for more details.
Re-Spun Tees from Marine Layer allows you to exchange your old tees (any brand...but ideally cotton) for $5 credit each (max $25 per quarter).
You can either drop them off in-store or order a free recycling kit.
Carefully selected recycling partners ensure that even the unusable scraps find new life. Whether it's through repurposing them into housing insulation, fishing nets, or other creative applications, Re-Spun Tees from Marine Layer ensures that nothing goes to landfill.
2ReWear offers a convenient collection and recycling program, allowing you to easily recycle clothing, footwear, and household textiles at participating online and in-store retailers.
Through an extensive network of partners, 2ReWear collects, recycles, and trades more than 100 million pounds of post-consumer textile waste annually.
With a nationwide network of 10 facilities and 14 collection networks across 14 states, 2ReWear claims to provide the industry's most effective and efficient reuse and recycling programs.
The North Face will take back any of its own brand items (simply drop them off at any store).
Your items will either be repaired (and resold), donated to charity, or recycled.
Also, if you're an XPLR Pass member, The North Face will give you a $10 credit for your donation.
GotSneakers? is on a mission to help you contribute to a circular economy.
Its free sneaker recycling programs cater to individual sellers and organizations of all shapes and sizes.
By joining the GotSneakers? recycling community, you'll make a global impact and get paid for every pair of sneakers you contribute.
When it's time to part ways with your old undergarments, Hanky Panky has an excellent solution.
Their Lingeriecycle program is a top-notch clothing recycling initiative that accepts bras, underwear, and socks from any brand.
They collaborate with Green Tree (a non-profit organization that prevents clothing waste from ending in landfills).
Sometimes, things don't work out, but you can take comfort in knowing that your old intimates will find new purpose as industrial insulation, spreading warmth and love in a different way!
Green City Recycler is a recycling company that diverts used clothing, shoes, and household items from ending up in landfills.
Its mission is to combat the alarming amount of clothing waste and reduce the millions of pounds that burden our local landfill.
Through an innovative program, Green City Recycler has successfully assisted numerous communities and municipalities in achieving their environmental objectives, focusing on three key areas:
The following brands offer resale or recycling programs but only for their own brands:
While these programs limit what you can resell/recycle, I've listed my favorites, as some might come in handy for you.
The average American generates a staggering 112 lbs of textile waste each year.
And, despite the recyclability of most textiles, an alarming 66% still find their way into US landfills.
Consumerism and greenwashing mean we're often persuaded to buy more than we need.
Add this to the fact that most fast fashion items are poorly made and will only last a short time, and you quickly understand why clothing recycling is so important.
Fabric recycling, much like recycling plastic or metal, typically entails restoring the material to its original form of yarn or thread.
Initially, the fabric undergoes a meticulous sorting process based on color and material type (wool, cotton, synthetic, etc.). Following this, the material is stripped down to its raw fibers. These new fibers are spun into new yarn, ready to make recycled clothing.
However, it's not all positive. The industrial recycling process can be demanding, involving significant manpower, technology, resources, and carbon emissions.
Also, certain items pose challenges for recycling. For example, when fabrics are blended with different materials (which is often the case with synthetics), recycling becomes difficult or too expensive.
If you've not found a recycling program above to suit your needs, don't panic (and certainly don't toss your clothes in the trash!), you still have plenty of other options.
Donate your clothes and textiles to a thrift store like Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
Many local churches also accept donated clothing, shoes, and other items.
You could also donate directly to a homeless shelter or charity that distributes gently used clothing to those in need.
Apps like Buy Nothing, Freecycle, and Trash Nothing also help your unwanted items find a new home.
It's important to consider that any donations you make should be respectful of the potential recipient. You should not expect gratitude from someone in need for items such as stained shirts or ripped sweatpants. Make sure anything you donate is in good condition.
You could host a swap party with friends and family.
Invite everyone to bring clothes or shoes they no longer want, then set up a swapping station and let your guests pick out new-to-them items.
This is fun and sustainable...and you might even find some hidden gems in the process!
You can also resell clothes on apps like Poshmark and Depop or websites like Facebook Marketplace This is a great way to make extra money while helping your clothes find new homes.
If you're too busy to sort, photograph, list, and ship the items you no longer need, let the ThredUp Cleanout service do the work for you.
Pop all your unwanted clothes into a bag and ship it to Thredup for free. They will then be sorted and listed for you, and you'll be paid a percentage of anything that sells. Anything that doesn't sell will be responsibly recycled whenever possible.
Upcycled fashion is huge at the moment for both men and women, so why not copy some of what the leading brands are doing at home?
If you're feeling crafty, you can upcycle your clothing into something new. Some things that Mrs. M and I have tried in the past include:
Natural fabric, like cotton, wool, and silk, is compostable (just ensure they're free from synthetic fibers, like polyester).
Remove any buttons, labels, or zippers, then finely shred the remaining fabric before adding it to your compost pile.
If you find that you're looking to donate and recycle bags full of clothes every season, it might be a sign that you're buying too many clothes in the first place.
The most sustainable approach to recycling your clothes is to not buy unnecessarily in the first place. This will help reduce textile waste and save you a pretty penny!
When you do need to buy clothes, try shopping secondhand stores or thrift shops and get creative with how you style the clothing items you purchase.
Buying a small selection of items that can be worn in various ways is an excellent way to express your style while being mindful of your wallet and fabric consumption.
You can throw old clothes in the garbage...but please don't! Instead, consider one of the many options mentioned in this article. They'll give a second life to clothes that no longer fit your wardrobe.
A consignment store is a retail outlet selling gently used old clothes. Consignment stores might be the perfect option if you're looking for good quality secondhand clothing at a more affordable price than traditional stores.
Yes, you can recycle eyewear! Some opticians accept old glasses for reuse or recycling. You can also contact your local waste management company to find out if they have any programs in place for recycling eyeglasses. Alternatively, some charities accept donated spectacles and distribute them to those in need.
No, not all clothes can be recyclable into new clothes. Unfortunately, some fabrics cannot be recycled because they contain synthetic materials that break down too quickly. However, these items can often be repurposed (such as being shredded for use in housing insulation, for example).
Wearable Collections (mentioned in this article) is a good place to start if you're looking to dispose of clothes in the NYC area.
Clothes that are ripped, stained, or generally in poor condition should not be donated.
It's essential to be conscious of your consumption when it comes to clothing.
Instead of buying too many clothes you won't wear, try shopping second-hand stores or thrift shops for some unique items, and style each piece in multiple ways.
By being mindful of how much clothing you buy (and recycling and donating excess items), you can help reduce waste while still staying stylish.
With proper knowledge and effort, you can create a fantastic wardrobe while being mindful of your budget and environmental impact.
How do you get rid of your old clothes? Do you take the time to find a second home for usable clothing and old items? Or do you toss them in the trash? What's your favorite way to recycle difficult-to-recycle items? Drop me a line and let me know.
