Almost all clothes and shoes are recyclable, so learn how to recycle your clothing and shoes, even if they’re not in great condition, is an important contribution to our environment. Scroll down for a few options on how to do so.
1. Look into textile recycling near you
You can still recycle clothes & shoes that aren’t in good condition. Get started by looking for textile recycling near you or clothes recycling bins near me.
Textile recycling might not be as easy as throwing the items into a bin, dragging it to the curb, and waiting for someone else to pick them up, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Search for clothing recycling bins in your area, many of which will take clothing in any condition, and drop off your items for free. There are also plenty of websites that help you find bins in your area.
2. Donate them to places that take old clothing
There are also certain donation spots that will actually take your super old clothing and get them recycled for you. The companies get money for the clothing, and that money goes towards charities. Some go to foreign markets, while some end up being used for things like insulation and upholstery stuffing.
3. Talk to thrift shops
Thrift stores often get more donations than they need and they don’t just throw away the items they can’t use. While some thrift stores won’t take worn-out clothing, some do — and they just recycle what they don’t use. If you regularly go into a thrift store or you’re familiar with one, go in and ask what their practices are. Be sure they aren’t just throwing them away.
4. Drop them off at stores that will help
There are even some big-name stores that will accept old clothes and help them get recycled. They will take your old clothes and shoes for you, recycle them, and even give you a reward for them. They also take old denim and sends it to a green company that turns it into housing insulation.
5. See if they can be composted
According to RecycleBank, clothing made of cotton and other natural fibers can be composted, as long as they aren’t blended with synthetic fibers like polyester. To compost these, shred them finely and remove any attachments, like zippers or buttons.
6. Turn them into rags to use around your house
If you really don’t want to go out of your way to recycle your items or drop them off somewhere, you can recycle them yourself at home. Old clothing often makes great cleaning rags. Simply cut up the clothes and turn them into rags for dusting and cleaning – you’ll save money, keep your home clean, and reuse otherwise destroyed items.
7. Look up other textile recycling programs near you
There are so many more textile recycling programs out there than you’d think. Have old bras you don’t know what to do with? The Bra Recyclers takes old bras at drop-off stations or you can even mail them in to be repurposed or recycled.
8. Make a quilt
If you have a sentimental attachment to T-shirts, dresses, or scarves that aren’t in very good condition, cut them up and sew them into a quilt that will always remind you of the memories you associate with them.
9. Get artsy
Whether it’s crafting a sock puppet for your little one or using it to explore your inner fashion designer, try having a bit of artistic fun with pieces you’re never going to wear again anyway —what have you got to lose?