What’s wrong with donating clothes?
Before you start piling random unwanted items together and planning to ‘donate’ them, I would like to offer information and resources that may make it both easier and harder to get rid of unwanted items.
Firstly, I challenge all of us to stop planning to ‘donate’ items, especially clothing, by using donation bins or large second-hand stores. Why? Well, data from the EPA shows that only 16% of donated clothing end up being used. That figure blows my mind, even now, after all I’ve learned.
Instead of someone else using and loving our unwanted pieces, they tend to end up in landfills or incinerated. Again, we ask WHY? Aren’t there people out there who are in need? Aren’t there people who want the things that I’m not using anymore?
Well, yes and no. Due to the rise of fast fashion and offshore production (and cheap labor in mostly unethical working conditions), the price of clothing has become so inexpensive that even those with less disposable income are buying *new* clothes rather than *previously used* clothes. That means our ‘donations’ have nowhere to go – the happy person you imaged wearing your old sweater does not exist.
Of course, there are strategic ways to donate unwanted clothes that are still wearable – and there are ways to extend the life of the clothes that aren’t wearable too – nothing need go in the trash bin! Check out my list below.
And while this might all feel overwhelming, your future self, as well as future generations will thank you for doing your part to keep clothing out of landfills <3
WHAT TO DO WITH UNWANTED CLOTHES: A LIST OF RESOURCES
If your clothes are in good condition and you would give them to a friend, try extending their life using one of these ideas:
Holding or attending a clothing swap (pssssst, I’m having one on May 18!)
Reselling your clothes through TheRealReal, ThredUp or on PoshMark
Donating them to a specific-use group e.g. I Support the Girls (for bras) or your local women’s shelter or jail (women re-entering society need clothes!)
Finding a specific program like coat donations
If your clothes are unlikely to be worn again (e.g. you wouldn’t give them to a friend), try keeping them out of landfill using a circularity program:
Marine Layer’s respun program (cotton only)
ForDays Take Back Bag (I’ll have lots of these at my May 18 event!)
SmartWool (socks and related items)
Check if the clothing brand accepts their old products (like Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, Lululemon, and Outerknown)
For those things (including shoes, towels and linens) that are beyond further use, consider the following ideas:
Create a ‘rag’ basket – old clothes make great rags for cleaning the house and the car
Donate them to an animal shelter
Fill a ForDays Take Back Bag with any unwanted textile for recycling
Send old shoes for recycling either through ForDays, Nike, Terracycle or Sole4Souls
So before you begin your closet cleanout, or before your piles get too big, create a bag or box for each of the programs you intend to use and then thoughtfully get rid of your unwanted items. Its time-consuming but worthwhile work.
xo Kevin
P.S. If you have unwanted kids toys, products etc, I have found that preschools, day cares and libraries are often happy to accept items in good condition! Ask around in your community or join a local Buy Nothing Group on facebook.