35 Best Places to Recycle Old Clothing and Textiles
This post is about where to recycle old clothing & the 35 best places you can take your old clothing and textiles!
If you’re like most people, you probably have a lot of clothes in your closet that you don’t wear anymore. Maybe they don’t fit, they’re out of style, or you just don’t like them as much as you used to.
Whatever the reason, you don’t want just to throw them away. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for recycling your old clothes.
Why Recycle Clothing
Do you ever wonder what happens to your old clothes when you throw them away? Unfortunately, most of them end up in landfill, where they can take years to decompose. This not only takes up valuable space but also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which harm the environment.
As well as helping the environment, recycling your clothing can also have economic benefits. Many organisations and companies will accept gently used clothing donations, which can then be resold or repurposed. This creates jobs and helps to support local communities.
Recycling your clothing can also help to promote sustainable fashion. By choosing to recycle your clothes instead of buying new ones, you can reduce the demand for new clothing production. This can help to reduce the negative environmental impact of the fashion industry, which is known for its high levels of waste and pollution.
What Can Be Recycled
Recycling clothes has become more popular in recent years as people become more aware of the impact of fashion on the environment. But what exactly can be recycled?
Natural Fibres
Clothes made from natural fibres such as cotton, wool, and linen can be recycled. These materials can be turned into new clothes or other textile products. It’s important to note that clothes made from natural fibres should not be mixed with clothes made from synthetic fibres as this can affect the quality of the recycled material.
Synthetic Fibers
Clothes made from synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic can also be recycled. These materials can be turned into new clothes or other textile products. However, it’s important to note that clothes made from synthetic fibres can take hundreds of years to break down in landfill, so recycling them is an important step in reducing waste.
Old Clothing Items
Old clothing items such as socks, tights, and towels can also be recycled. These items can be turned into rags or other textile products. It’s important to note that these items should be clean and dry before being recycled.
Environmental Impacts of Clothing Recycling
Recycling clothing is an environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted clothing. Instead of throwing them in landfills, recycling helps reduce the amount of textile waste in the environment. Textile waste in landfills can take up to 200 years to decompose, releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Image above shows what landfills full of clothing are currently looking like! Very sad situation.
Recycling clothing also helps reduce the amount of water and energy used in the production of new textiles. Textile production is a resource-intensive process that requires large amounts of water and energy.
However, it’s important to note that not all clothing can be recycled. Clothing made from natural fibres such as cotton, wool, and silk can be recycled, but clothing made from synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic can be more difficult to recycle. Synthetic fibres can release microfibers into the environment during the recycling process, which can be harmful to wildlife and the environment.
To ensure that your clothing is recycled properly, it’s important to check with your local recycling centre to see what materials they accept. Some recycling centres may only accept certain types of clothing or may require clothing to be sorted by material type.
Composting is another environmentally friendly way to dispose of clothing. Composting natural fibres such as cotton, wool, and silk can help reduce textile waste and provide valuable nutrients for plants. However, it’s important to ensure that the clothing is made from natural fibres and free from synthetic materials that can harm the composting process.
How to recycle clothing
Thrift Stores
Thrift stores are one of the great donation options for recycling your old clothes. You can donate your clothes to these stores, and they will resell them. This not only helps reduce waste but also supports the local community.
Charity Shops
Many nonprofits accept clothing donations, such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army. These organizations will resell the clothes or donate them to those in need. You can also look for local nonprofits that accept clothing donations.
Resell Your Clothes
You can sell your unwanted clothes at your local thrift store or consignment store. Also, consider selling them online through a reputable online reseller like thredUP, Poshmark, Vinted or eBay. A majority of textile waste is generated from clothes that are still in good condition, so reselling your clothes can be a great way to reduce waste.
Recycle Your Clothes
If your clothes are no longer suitable for donation or reselling, you can recycle them. There are lots of options from clothing banks to recycling companies like Terracycle and Recycle Now.
Take-Back Programs
Many clothing brands now offer incentive programs, where you can return your old clothes to the company for recycling. For example, the Renew program by Eileen Fisher allows you to return your old Eileen Fisher clothes for recycling and receive a $5 reward for each item. Check with your favourite brands to see if they offer a take-back program.
Repurposing and Upcycling
If you’re looking for a more creative way to recycle your old clothes, repurposing and upcycling might be the perfect solution for you. Repurposing is the process of taking an item and using it for a different purpose than what it was originally intended for. Upcycling, on the other hand, is the process of taking an item and transforming it into something of higher value or quality.
Where to Recycle Clothing: 35 Best Places to Recycle Old Clothes
Recycle now
Location: UK
Recycle Now is the go-to recycling campaign for England and Northern Ireland, inspiring more people to recycle the right things more often. They’re part of WRAP, a charity committed to a sustainable world by encouraging responsible resource usage and recycling.
Their mission is to make recycling the norm and create a better future for generations to come.
Check out their handy Recycling Locator Tool helps you find nearby recycling points for various items, drop-off locations and even what you can recycle at home.
Terracycle
Location: Global
TerraCycle is a company that specializes in recycling hard-to-recycle waste and developing innovative solutions for waste management.
A top priority is to encourage manufacturers to design products and packaging that can be easily recycled locally. When that’s not feasible, they team up with brands to establish free recycling programs, tailored to their preferences. Taking it up a notch, TerraCycle is all about transitioning from recycling to reuse. Enter Loop, their global reuse platform, which empowers brands to create easily reusable packaging, readily accessible to consumers through retailers.
Salvation Army Clothing Bank
Location: USA UK & AUS
The Salvation Army clothing banks are collection points or containers placed in various locations where people can donate their used clothing and textiles. These donated items are then collected by The Salvation Army, a charitable organization, and either sold in their thrift stores to generate funds for their social programs or distributed directly to those in need. It is a way to encourage clothing recycling, support charitable initiatives, and help individuals in the community.
There is The Salvation Army UK, Salvation Army USA and Salvation Army AUS
USAgain
Location: USA
USAgain is a textile recycling company based in the United States. They specialize in collecting and recycling used clothing, shoes, and other textiles to divert them from landfills and give them a new life. USAgain operates a network of collection bins placed in various locations where people can quickly drop off their unwanted clothing and textiles for recycling.
Earth 911
Location: USA
Earth911 is a comprehensive environmental resource and recycling database based in the United States. It provides information and resources to help individuals and businesses make more sustainable choices and properly dispose of various types of waste. Earth911 offers a searchable database that allows users to find local recycling facilities, donation centers, and other environmentally responsible solutions for items they no longer need.
Donate NYC
Location: USA, NYC
Donate NYC is a recycling program in New York City that encourages and facilitates clothing and textile donations to support local charities and reduce waste. Residents can utilize this searchable map, an online and mobile tool that locates convenient places to donate or find second-hand goods.
Reclothe NY Coalition
Location: USA, NY
The Re-Clothe NY Coalition is comprised of textile recyclers, local governments, non-profit reuse organizations, and others working together towards a more sustainable and circular fashion economy to increase the amount of textiles recovered for reuse and recycling in New York State.
Retold Recycling Work
Location: USA
Retold Recycling Work is an organization dedicated to recycling and repurposing clothing items. They will take all clean and dry household textiles and clothes. They accept your best stuff like your wedding dress but also items with signs of wear i.e. a bra where the underwire has come out or that one odd sock.
All you have to do is order your bag. Each bag has a pre-paid shipping label attached so you’ll never have to wait in line at the Post Office. How great is that!
Goodwill
Location: USA
Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that operates a network of thrift stores and social service programs. Their thrift stores accept and resell donated acceptable items, with the revenue generated supporting job training, employment placement services, and other community-based initiatives for people facing barriers to employment.
America’s Thrift Store
Location: USA
America’s Thrift Store is a chain of thrift stores in the United States. Similar to other thrift stores, America’s Thrift Store accepts and resells donated items such as clothing in wearable condition, furniture, household goods, and more. The proceeds from the sales are used to support charitable causes and organizations. Each store typically operates under the principle of recycling and reusing goods to promote sustainability and help the local community.
Charity shops
Location: UK
A charity shop in the UK is a retail store run by a charitable organization, selling donated second-hand items to raise funds for their specific charity.
Online Consignment Stores
Online consignment stores are resale platforms where the store will take your old clothes and resell them for you. Powering the circular economy for fashion!
Some great ones include:
Thrift +
Location: UK
ThredUP
Location: USA
Poshmark
Location: USA
Vestaire Collective
Location: UK
Rethread
Location: UK
The RealReal
Location: USA
Re-Fashion
Location: UK
Re-fashion offers £5 to spend online with every bag you fill with unwanted clothes.
Donate to Animal Shelters
Location: Global/Local
Items like old towels and blankets are greatly needed at animal shelters around the world. Make sure to call ahead at your local animal shelter to see if they are in need of your donations before you drop them off.
Donate to Women’s Shelters
Location: Global/Local
Although you may be certain that items could be of use, your local refuge may not always be able to accept them. Please check before you donate and don’t be offended if they can’t take your items as they maybe full at the time you call.
Clothing Swaps
Location: Global/Local
A clothing swap is a great way to re-home those unwanted items of yours you no longer wear. If you search for local clothing swaps near you, you might just find the best way to get rid of those old clothes and even come home with something new!
Smaller Local Charities
Location: Global/Local
Search for small, local charities in your area. These types of charities are always looking for clothing donations. Some examples are Little Green Sock in the UK and Spreading Seeds in the USA.
Clothing Brands with Recycle Schemes
Many clothing brands now have recycling programmes. Here are some of my favourite recycle schemes with some popular brands:
For Days
Location: USA/Online
For Days have built an expert network of clothing designers, sorters, closed loop recyclers, resellers, and downcyclers to create a circular revolution and try to end fashion waste. Order you take back bag here.
Knickey
Location: USA/Online
Recycle your old garments with Knickey and receive 15% off your next order!
One Essentials
Location: UK/Online
One Essentials will take any brand, any size, any materials of your old underwear! Including bras and socks. In return they are sending £10 off your next order with them. Can’t argue with that!
Patagonia
Location: Global/Online
If you are a fan of Patagonia they offer a recycle scheme for products that have reached the end of their useful lives. These products may be recycled or repurposed. They encourage you to find a new home for any Patagonia items that are still useable and repair them whenever possible. Some items, however, are beyond reuse or repair. You can take these products back to any retail store or send them back to this address.
Nike
Location: Global/online
Instead of throwing your old Nike gear away, they will clean and donate or recycle your used athletic wear to make sure it lives on, when you’re done wearing it. They also provide maintenance and care recommendations for your favourite Nike shoes, accessories and apparel.
Got sneakers
Location: USA/Online
300+ million pairs of athletic shoes are sent to landfill every year in America, or you can recycle them with GotSneakers where they can take on a new life with someone in need.
Runners Need
Location: UK/Online
Runners Need wants to be a zero-waste retailer and reduce its impact on the environment. They have introduced Recycle My Gear as part of our sustainability programme. They will accept most textiles and fabrics, whether loose material or garments and any footwear!
Schuh
Location: UK/Online
Schuh has introduced a Sell Your Soles scheme. For every pair of unwanted shoes, they will give you £5 in vouchers to spend in-store.
Sweaty Betty
Location: UK
Sweaty Betty has teamed up with Re-skinned who specialises in recycling pre-loved pieces in the most effective and planet-friendly way possible. The best bit is that you will receive up to £40 off something new for the website! Unfortunately, this is currently available for UK customers only.
Repurpose Clothes into Rags
One popular way to repurpose old clothes is by turning them into cleaning rags. Simply cut up your old t-shirts, towels, or other fabrics into smaller pieces and use them to clean your home. This is a great way to reduce waste and save money on cleaning supplies.
Upcycle Clothes into New Items
Another popular way to upcycle old clothes is by turning them into new clothing items or accessories. For example, you can turn a pair of old jeans into a stylish denim skirt or a denim bag. You can also use old T-shirts to make a new dress or a tote bag.
Sell Your Old Clothes
There are some online platforms where you can sell items that you no longer use or want. The main ones that I use are:
eBay
Location: Global/Online
eBay is a brilliant selling platform for clothing, textiles and anything else you can think of really. Anything goes on eBay!
Vinted
Location: Global/Online
Vinted is a great platform for selling highstreet items and some designer pieces.
Depop
Location: Global/Online
Depop is another great selling platform for selling vintage, reworked or custom made items.
The Future of Clothing Recycling
With a growing focus on sustainability and transparency, as I mentioned above, more and more clothing brands are making an effort to recycle and resell their products.
Another trend I have touched on is the rise of intimate recycling. While many people may feel uncomfortable donating their old underwear or bras, some companies are now offering recycling programs for these items. By recycling your old intimates, you can help reduce waste and ensure that these items are disposed of safely and responsibly.
Of course, recycling is just one part of the equation when it comes to sustainable fashion but if you’re doing some spring cleaning or simply looking to make more sustainable choices, there are plenty of options when it comes to recycling your clothes.
Where to Recycle Clothing: 35 Best Places to Recycle Old Clothes
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Nylon hosiery, tights and pantyhose, are accepted for recycling by Recycled Crafts. For more information, their email is [email protected], or search for savemyhosiery.
Oh brilliant, thank you so much for the information! Kat x