Recycle clothes; Everything to know about clothes recycling
Have you ever noticed the impact of textile production on the environment? Did you know that some simple steps can take a huge part of these impacts under control? That is clothes recycling!
Once you recycle clothes, not only the environmental impacts are gradually controlled, but also you can have a personal profit! This is when you try to donate clothes with moral profits or sell clothes with a small side income for you. Let’s take a look at clothes recycling from every corner of this action.
What is textile recycling? What does it mean to recycle clothes?
Clothes or textile recycling reuses old or unwanted clothing and textiles for new purposes. This practice helps to reduce waste and conserve resources by diverting textiles from landfills and incinerators.
There are several ways to recycle cloth that we will discuss more in the coming parts of the content; however, to give you a general clue, it is good to name them shortly.
Donating used clothing to charity organizations or thrift shops.
Selling used clothing online or at consignment shops.
Repurposing old clothing into new items such as quilts, rugs, or bags.
Recycling textiles through specialized recycling programs that turn them into new products such as insulation or cleaning rags.
Textile Waste and the Environment
At first glance, we may not be aware of the impact of textile waste on the environment. However, when getting deeper into it, there are 4 aspects to consider.
Water use
Of course, every production process requires a defined amount of water, and textile production is not excluded. Depending on the material, this amount could vary. In 2015 the global textile and clothing industry used almost 79 billion cubic meters, and this rate increased to 266 billion cubic meters by 2017!
It takes about 2,700 liters of water to produce a T-shirt, which equals the amount of water a person needs to drink in 2.5 years!
If everything goes the same, with no control over consumerism and people avoiding recycling clothes, the rate will potentially reach 500 billion cubic meters in the coming years.
Water pollution
Estimations show 20% of global clean water pollution refers to dyeing and finishing textile products. Another side of water pollution comes from the microfibers released in the oceans, with a rate of 0.5 million tons annually just for washing synthetic clothes.
35% of primary microplastics are released into the environment once the synthetic clothes are washed, and polyester clothes can discharge 700,000 microplastic fibers, ending up in the food chain! Therefore, we may eat this pollution.
Gas emissions
The fast fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, which is almost twice more than the international shipping industry.
Landfills overflow
Since many think the only way to get rid of unwanted clothes is by throwing them away, the rate of discarded clothes per person in European countries is about 11 kilos yearly. Instead, if this amount is donated or they try to recycle clothes through the companies offering this service, we will have no landfills overflow in the future.
Ways to Reuse Textiles
Even if you are not convinced about the environmental problems, the economic side is worth considering clothes recycling and reusing techniques. Here, we will tell you 3 ways to reuse your old clothes.
Shredding
If a piece of cloth is not reusable at all, you can take out the clean and untorn strips of that and use it for dusting, creating clothes for your pets, or using it for creating decorative products.
Donating, swapping, or selling
If the clothes are in good condition, but you are not willing to use them anymore, you can donate them to charities collecting clothes or gift them to people you know they need.
Some companies buy your old clothes and rent them to others, redesigning them or recycling them. You can find these companies, sell your clothes and buy new ones with the money you earn.
You can also swap your clothes with someone else’s if you tend to own their style.
Fixing or transforming
Sometimes, we avoid using a piece of clothing because a small hole is on the tip of the sleeve! This is just an example of how we simply want to get rid of our small-damaged clothes. You can mend what you have to make them reusable or create new textiles for new clothes. One of the most popular things to fix old clothes is embroidery.
Finally, if none of these are suitable, you can contact thread cycling companies and recycle clothes with no trouble.
Why should you use clothing recycling programs?
Did you know that only 15% of textile wastes in the US are recycled or reused, and the rest are serious harm to the environment? Through clothing recycling programs, not only is this issue solved, but also other benefits are fulfilled. Here are some reasons you should have a recycling clothes program in your lifestyle.
Since left clothes in the landfill cause gas emissions, when following a clothes recycling program, these gases are under control and avoid climate change in the long term. Then one side of this issue is saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with textile production. The other side is helping reduce the waste sent to landfills and incinerators.
Reusing and recycling clothes means thrifting in various resources, including money, water, materials, productions, etc. Therefore, conserving resources by reusing materials instead of producing new ones is another point.
The demand for clothing is high all around the world. By making clothes recycling a trend worldwide, the production proceeded with lower costs, which means a cheaper final product that more people can afford.
Having a clothing recycling program in your clothing company means more reputation. Environmentalists prefer to buy clothes from a brand that cares for the earth.
Clothes recycling programs support local economies by creating jobs in the recycling industry.
Tips to know before you recycle clothes
Following a few tips will help recyclers to enhance the process and quality while it is convenient.
Check for local recycling options
You need to know where you can recycle your clothes. So, it is better to research your local recycling options before you start recycling textiles. Many cities and towns have textile recycling programs that accept a variety of materials. There are also companies that collect clothes for recycling at your doorstep.
Separate clothing by material
When recycling textiles, it’s important to separate clothing by material, making it easier for recyclers to sort and process the materials. Note that clothes that are sent for recycling are mixed with virgin materials to be appropriate for clothing industries such as sustainable fashion businesses. Thus, it is good to separate the materials of the same clothes as well. For example, if a part of the clothes has leather and the rest is cotton, it is better to cut different materials before sending them to recyclers.
Remove any non-textile materials
Be sure to remove any non-textile materials such as zippers, buttons, and embellishments before recycling textiles. Since the clothes recycling process is followed by mixing with other materials mentioned before, these non-textiles may impact the quality of recycling.
Be aware of synthetic materials
Polyester and nylon, which are synthetic materials, are not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to break down. Consider reducing your use of synthetic materials or finding ways to recycle them properly.
Check for damage
Before recycling textiles, check for any damage, such as holes or stains. Some recyclers may not accept damaged items. If you can take out these parts, please do it. Or you can check with the company if they accept damaged clothes.
Donate usable clothing
If clothing is still in good condition, consider donating it to a charity or thrift store instead of recycling it. Apart from the moral side, it helps to reduce the energy used for recycling clothes.
Do upcycling instead of Recycling
Instead of recycling textiles, consider upcycling them into something new and useful, such as a quilt or tote bag. It is also possible to create clothes for your pet.
How to recycle your old clothes?
First, you need to find an organization offering clothes recycling services. We have listed the top 10 brands and companies below, and check if they also offer their services in your region.
Once you have found your desired company, and made sure that nothing but recycling is suitable for your clothes, contact them. (If you think upcycling, donating, or even selling is a better option, please prioritize it to recycling).
Remember to check with the company about recycling programs to see what materials they accept and how to properly prepare your clothes for recycling.
Now it is time to follow the tips before recycling the clothes mentioned above and then hand in your old clothes to the picked company.
If you frequently damage your clothes and need a recycling process, dedicate time to this issue to get rid of unwanted clothes fast and easily.
You can also do composting on your old clothes to recycle them. If your clothes are made of natural fibers such as cotton or wool, you can compost them. Cut them into small pieces and add them to your compost bin.
Companies that offer recycling programs for clothes
There are companies that offer recycling programs for clothes, and there are brands that recycle your clothes. This is the top-10 list of both categories:
Top 10 Companies offering recycling programs for clothes
Freecycle
Trash Nothing
Retold Recycling
Buy Nothing Facebook Groups
TerraCycle
Helpsy
Wearable Collections
Sharewear Clothing Scheme
B.R.A (The Bra Recycling Agency)
Natural Fiber Welding
Top 10 Brands that recycle clothes for you
H&M
thredUP
tonlé
Girlfriend Collective
Hanky Panky
Patagonia
Knickey
Eileen Fisher
Pact
American recycling clothes
What can old clothes be recycled into?
Old clothes can be recycled into a variety of things, such as new clothing items, cleaning rags, insulation materials, and even new textiles! The process of recycling old clothes involves breaking down the fibers and using them to create new products. Some recycling companies also offer donation programs where old clothes are collected and distributed to those in need.
Are recycled clothes eco-friendly?
Recycled clothes are considered eco-friendly because they reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and the demand for new resources to create new clothing items. Recycling also requires less energy and resources than creating new textiles from scratch. Additionally, recycling clothes can help reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry, which is known for its high levels of waste and pollution.
A simple solution, rescue the earth by reusing and recycling clothes
Yes, you can rescue the earth by taking small actions, and one of these actions is recycling clothes. With the help of clothes recycling programs, you can get rid of unwanted clothes, save more money, and have a positive impact on the environment.
Cloth recycling is an important practice that can help to reduce waste and conserve resources. By donating, repurposing, or recycling old clothing and textiles, we can help to create a more sustainable future.
This time, when you were thinking of throwing away a piece of clothing, wait for a moment and think about clothes recycling. Then decide what to do with the clothes in your hand.
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