Busting Myths About Recycling and Easy Tips for Recycling Your Old Clothing
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Busting Myths About Recycling and Easy Tips for Recycling Your Old Clothing

Discover the truth about clothing recycling and learn how to recycle your old clothes the right way. From debunking common myths to offering practical tips, this guide will help you reduce waste and embrace sustainable fashion.

Remember that scene in Wall-e where the main character roams around a future Earth turned into a massive landfill? Unfortunately, this bleak vision is edging closer to reality. In just the past 15 years, the amount of clothing Americans toss in the trash has doubled, with a staggering 11.8 billion kilograms of clothing ending up in landfills each year in the U.S. alone. Let’s break down some common myths about textile recycling and share our top tips for recycling your old clothing the right way!

Myth 1: Clothing Thrown in the Trash Gets Recycled

The sad truth is, we are still far from a comprehensive recycling solution. It’s not about the lack of technology but the lack of financial incentive for industries like plastics and oil. Did you know that less than 10% of all plastic is actually recycled, even after decades of efforts? Unfortunately, textile recycling faces similar challenges globally, with no standard system in place to recycle clothing effectively.

Myth 2: Clothing Decomposes in Landfills

Many people assume that their old clothes will decompose in a landfill, but this is often not the case. While natural fibers like cotton, linen, and wool do break down, they do so slowly, releasing methane—a greenhouse gas five times more potent than CO2. Synthetic materials like polyester can take centuries to decompose, releasing toxic chemicals into the air.

Myth 3: Recycling Is Solely Our Responsibility

We’ve been led to believe that recycling is our responsibility as good citizens, but the real change needs to come from manufacturers. “Extended producer responsibility” is a concept that shifts the burden of recycling from consumers to producers. The same principle should apply to fashion brands—they should be responsible for collecting and recycling their products. After all, 95% of textiles that end up in the trash could actually be recycled!

 

Top Tips for Recycling Your Clothing

1. Use In-Store Recycling Bins

Many stores like Levis, Madewell, Columbia, American Eagle Outfitters and Reformation have in-store recycling bins where you can drop off clothing of any condition.

2. Find Clothing Bins That Recycle

Look for green recycling bins in your area. In larger U.S. cities, USAgain and Planet Aid bins are great options for ensuring your clothes get recycled.

3. Take Advantage of Brand Take-Back Programs

Brands like Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, and Nike have programs that encourage customers to return used items for recycling. These programs are often more responsible and ensure your clothes are reused or recycled properly.

4. Donate to Your Local Thrift Shop

Contact local thrift stores or charities to see if they accept items for recycling. Some, like Savers, partner with recyclers to handle items that can’t be sold.

5. Look Into City Textile Recycling Programs

Some cities have textile recycling initiatives or drop-off points. It’s worth checking with your local municipality to see if these options are available.

6. Compost Your Clothing

For natural materials like cotton, linen, or hemp, composting can be an option. Just remove any non-compostable parts like buttons or zippers first!

 

The takeaway? While the system for recycling textiles is far from perfect, we can push for better practices from both brands and ourselves. Let’s keep our old clothing out of the trash and make more sustainable choices!

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