Recycle Clothes Near Me: The Best Place to Recycle Your Old Worn-Out Clothes
People throw out clothing, sheets, towels, and more every year. This textile waste is a huge burden on landfills and the waste management system. In 2018 alone, 17 million tons of textiles were thrown out, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
What to do with your worn-out clothes
Instead of tossing out last season’s outfits, take them to a clothing drop-off. Drop-off bins can be found at a variety of locations. For instance, check out your grocery store parking lot or near a local church. You may even find one near your laundromat. These bins collect worn-out clothes and ensure they’re either donated or recycled. Your old clothes can be repurposed instead of adding to the world’s waste problem.
To find a drop-off location near you, visit Wear Ever Recycling or USAgain. If you don’t have a location near you, encourage a local business owner to install a dropbox in their parking lot or near their storefront.
Fun Facts:
- 45% is re-used as second-hand apparel.
- 30% is made into wiping and polishing cloths.
- 20% is reprocessed into carpet padding, furniture stuffing, insulation, and more.
- 5% is not recyclable and is tossed into the landfill.
How Laundromat Owners Can Help
A common problem for laundromat owners is overflowing garbage bins. Customers often take the opportunity to toss a few items while doing their laundry. These unwanted clothes end up in the trash bin and add to the garbage bill. Keep your trash bins lighter while providing extra service to customers by adding a clothing dropbox to your business. Customers will bring their extra clothes for the donation or recycling bin instead of unloading them into your garbage cans.
Action Items
- For Business Owners: Contact one of the textiles recycling dropbox providers to place a dropbox on your property.
- For Customers: Locate a dropbox to recycle your worn-out clothes; either 20% is reprocessed, or 30% is made into wiping cloths.
