Goodbye, trash. We’ve rounded up the best clothing donation bins and recycling services so you never have to put old clothes into the landfill.
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Conscious shopping is about supporting sustainable brands, buying less, and saying ‘no’ to fast fashion. It’s also about consciously disposing of our unwanted clothes in a way that is better for the environment and avoids landfills. Thankfully, for today’s consumer, it’s easy to consciously dispose of an old pair of jeans or a dress you haven’t worn for years. Just as shopping has become more convenient, so too has donating or recycling our items at their end of life. There are donation bins you can visit and drop your clothes off at and services that ship ‘take back’ bags for you to donate or recycle from the comfort of your home. And some of your favorite retailers offer site credit for recycling your clothes through them.
Ditch The Landfill. This Brand Will Recycle Old Clothes For You.
With our eyes on reducing waste, we’ve rounded up clothing donation bins and recycling services that are accessible whether you live in a city or a rural area. We’ve also broken it down by the types of clothing and their state of disrepair. Reducing waste and having a circular closet has never been so easy.
Recycle anything in a state of disrepair
Donating damaged clothing can be a burden for smaller centers to handle. Due to a lack of resources, these items may end up being thrown away, which goes against the intended goal and can also incur additional costs for the centers. When your clothing items are beyond disrepair or you have items that cannot be donated like old socks, workout clothes, or underwear consider recycling them.
Subset: Intimates
This brand is all about putting the best materials close to your skin. Essentials like underwear, tanks, and loungewear are made from organic cotton. With a planet-first mission, the brand also offers a recycling program for intimates. Simply order a bag to be shipped to you. Stuff it with all of your unwanted intimates and ship it back to the brand. As a reward for being a good recycling steward, you’ll receive a $25 site credit.
“We accept any items in any condition whether that be stained, ripped, or broken. We just ask that you launder everything before sending it our way. Once received, we’ll sort and recycle your items for a second life — from new textiles to new projects, including furniture batting, insulation, & padding — sending nothing to landfill.”
Trashie: Clothing, Shoes, Accessories, and Linens
Keep your clothes out of the trash with this service. It’s simple to use. Buy a takeout bag for $20. Each bag that is shipped to you can hold 15 lbs of clothing. Stuff the bags with your unwanted items. Then, scan the QR Code and drop off the bag at your local post office. Trashie will then sort through your unwanted items and send them to retailers who buy downgraded items, industrial plants that turn discarded textiles into insulation or carpet padding, and other recycling facilities.
“Did you know that 85% of ALL textiles end up in landfills? (Yes, even the ones you donate!) There’s a solution, though. With Trashie’s #1 bestselling product, the Take Back Bag, your unwanted clothes and textiles stay out of the trash.”
For Days: Clothing
For Days’ recycling service is powered by Trashie. So, you’ll notice that they have a similar signup process for their take-back bags. Once you’ve sent your clothing in to be recycled, you’ll also earn Trashie rewards or a For Days site credit to stock up on your basics.
Donate Well-maintained items.
If your clothing items are still in wearable condition consider donating them to be re-worn. There are clothing donation bins that you can visit and drop your pre-loved clothing off to. These are generally non-profit organizations whose funds are reinvested into the community to support shelters for the homeless, rehabilitation programs, and other initiatives. If you’re unsure about whether or not they’ll accept your items, contact the specific location beforehand to confirm their current donation acceptance policy and any specific requirements for donated items.
Planet Aid: Clothing
Planet Aid is a nonprofit that began in Boston in 1997 to help those with economic insecurities and the planet. They began with drop-off bins to collect unwanted clothing that could still be worn instead of going to landfills. Today this continues this mission.
If you live in the Northeast consider donating your gently-worn clothing to Planet Aid. With locations in a dozen states, you’re likely to find a clothing donation bin near you. If you do not live in a state with a clothing donation bin you can also print a Give Back Box shipping label and send up to 70 pounds of used clothes, shoes, books, small electronics, and housewares to their thrift store in Rockville, Maryland.
Goodwill: Clothing, Household Items, Appliances, and Furniture
This nonprofit has well-established donation centers throughout the U.S. In 2021 alone, the New York and New Jersey divisions successfully diverted 40 million pounds of used clothing and household items from being thrown in landfills. While there are clothing donation bins throughout the U.S., it is always recommended to check their website or call beforehand to ensure that they accept the items you are planning to donate. Some locations in the city can get overwhelmed and may reject donations, especially towards the end of the day. Goodwill has specific guidelines for donations, including no items with odors, tears, or pilling, and they do not accept used undergarments such as underwear or socks.
Salvation Army: Clothing, Household Items, Appliances, and Furniture
Another well-established nonprofit is the Salvation Army. Similar to Goodwill, this organization accepts household items in addition to clothing. Use the map on the website to find a store of drop off location near you. With locations throughout the U.S they’re a convenient way to donate your preloved items to a good cause.