Clothing and Textiles Alternative ways to recycle Trash Currently, there are few options for recycling textiles in California, and thrift stores are overrun with donated clothing they cannot sell. The best way to avoid disposal is repair, participating in clothing swaps and online share groups, and limiting new purchases. Animal shelters may accept used towels and blankets. Used fabric, old pillows and clothing (that is no longer wearable) can be used as stuffing for pet beds, cushions, and pillows. Consider DonationIf the item is still usable, please donate. Visit Athens’ Material Reuse page for ideas. Alternative Ways to Recycle Recycle Torn, Stained or Worn Clothing Drop off clothing that is torn, stained or worn out at thrift shops. Most large thrift shops recycle clothing that they can’t sell. Some major clothing recyclers include Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Savers, Blue Jeans Go Green, American Textile Recycling Service and USAgain. Blue Jeans Go Green Campaign Mail in your denim to the “Blue Jeans Go Green” Campaign for free. They recycle it into UltraTouch Natural Fiber Insulation, which will be used in homes across the country. Find out more. The Bra Recyclers Mail in new or gently used bras to The Bra Recyclers. The Bra Recyclers is a textile recycling company working to support and educate communities worldwide. Find out more. Retailer Take-Back Programs Many popular retailers, including Forever 21, H&M, Levi’s and The North Face, accept old clothing through a partnership with the recycling company SOEX/I:CO. Donated clothing is resold, repurposed, or recycled back into raw materials. Ways to Reduce Buy Clothes Secondhand You can find lightly worn or even brand-new clothing at consignment or thrift shops. Help reduce your carbon footprint and reuse what’s in circulation. Did You Know? Microplastic Pollution from Synthetic Clothing Every time you wash synthetic clothing, tiny fibers from the fabric — microplastics — are swept down the drain and into our water system. A 2015 study found plastic debris from textiles in 67 percent of fish species sampled, including many species consumed by humans. In response, Coraball developed a microfiber catcher that you toss in your washing machine to prevent the fibers from polluting our waterways. A Market for Damaged Clothing The Renewal Workshop is a company that repairs imperfect clothing and sells it at a discount so that it won’t end up in a landfill. They have partnered with clothing manufacturers such as prAna, Ibex and Toad&Co. Learn more about their work toward building sustainable clothing systems here.