Can Old Clothes Be Recycled?

Each year, there are £140 million worth of clothing ends up in landfill. That’s tons of clothing—350 thousand to be a little more precise! Can old clothes be recycled? Well, there are many ways old clothes can be recycled, which is why it’s pretty shocking that these materials are just being dumped in the bin. What’s worse is that much of it consists of man-made materials that don’t decompose.

Ways Old Clothes can be Recycled

The thing is, a better way to get rid of your old clothing is to recycle it in numerous ways. It’s not just your worn-out clothing that could benefit from recycling, reusing, or repurposing. The estimated £30 billion worth of clothing sat unused in wardrobes could also be put to far better use.

No matter the condition of your old clothes, it can be recycled rather than ending up in a landfill.

It’s actually just as easy to recycle clothing as it is to dump it in the trash. Once you start looking, you’ll notice plenty of local textile recycling banks or places to sell secondhand garments.

Send your Clothes to Textile Recycling 

Textile recycling is really reserved for old garments that are not in any wearable condition. This includes unfixable clothing, reaching the end of its life. Many fabrics and textiles are easy to recycle into new materials. Plus, it’s actually easy to find places that would take your unwanted clothing.

Try calling the local council to see if they have any facilities. Local waste management facilities tend to recycle as much as possible now, so it might be the easiest place to start. Meanwhile, textile recycling banks hide in some odd corners of the world, and you’re quite likely to find a textile recycling bank in carparks or supermarkets.

Personally, I know there is one in the carpark of my local village green. It’s so convenient, and I’ve used it a few times over the years. 

Return your Old Clothing Items

Did you know that you can return clothing to the manufacturer when you’re done with it?

Big and small brands now accept used clothing in order to recycle the materials in some form or another. From footwear to functional outerwear, you can give it back to the place you bought it from, and even earn store credit in some cases.

Here is a list of stores where you can do just that:

Nike Reuse-A-Shoe

Nike accepts old sneakers from ANY brand, not just your old Airmax. The shoes are then recycled into new courts and athletics tracks. 

Patagonia Worn Wear

Worn Wear is a sustainability initiative that enables you to return your old Patagonia outerwear, either for recycling or fixing. You’ll get store credit for your next purchase, too!

Rapanui

Rapanui always searches for more sustainability in fashion. The growing company helps you send back t-shirts once you’re done with them, and even sews a free post-code right into the wash label, so you’ll always know where to send your old garms.

H&M Garment Collection

This garment-collecting programme is a global initiative that enables customers to return clothes to any store for recycling. You’ll get a £5/€5 voucher for your generosity of disposing your old clothes.

Donate your Clothes to Charity Shops

If your clothes still have plenty of life left, then how about donating them to charity? This is another easy solution with multiple benefits, including keeping perfectly good clothing out of the landfill. If you have items that you’ve grown out of or simply don’t like, someone else may jump at the chance to buy them. 

Charity shops usually appraise donated stock at very low prices, so you might also be helping someone out who can’t afford brand new quality clothing. Plus, let’s remember that their proceeds go to charity, so your old clothing is helping the world rather than damaging it. And hey, you might find something amazing for your wardrobe when you pop into the store!

Most villages and towns have charity shops, so it’s easy to quickly find one that accepts clothes.

Also, please remember to clean anything you donate… no one wants to pick through your dirty washing.

Sell your Unwanted Clothes

With modern technology, selling and buying secondhand goods is ridiculously easy. I use a number of websites and apps, which offer some great benefits to my life. 

When I’m shopping I’ll always look for secondhand goods first. It’s ideal for saving money, plus it helps me lead a more sustainable lifestyle. I also sell a lot of secondhand goods to make a little extra cash.

Gone are the days of saving all your old stuff to flog at a garage or car boot sale. Nowadays, you have access to international marketplaces from the palm of your hand. In some cases, all you need to do is snap a photo of your items, and you can start selling.

Try Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Craigslist, eBay, or Shpock to sell your clothes—either locally or internationally.

A quick tip: take the time to clean, and nicely photograph the garments. Better condition and presentation helps to fetch higher prices. Save yourself a headache, too, and be honest about any blemishes.

Happy selling!

Repurpose your Fabrics

Repurposing is a sustainable way to extend the life of fabrics that you might otherwise throw in the bin. Many textile recyclers use this method. One of the things they do is repurpose lower quality materials into insulation materials.

What’s cool is you’re able to quickly and efficiently repurpose fabrics at home. Moth-eaten t-shirts, cotton dresses, old jumpers—they’re all perfect for making reusable cleaning cloths.

Slice ‘em up into rectangles (other shapes are valid, too), and you’re pretty much done. It saves you money buying new cloths, plus it’s more sustainable than cleaning with paper cloths or kitchen roll. If they’re not too grubby, send the repurposed cloths through the washing machine and reuse.

Repurposing old clothing also involves upcycling, although this may depend on your tailoring skills. Try making ripped trousers into some fresh summer shorts. You can also get creative; my old school uniform is now a pillowcase.