Did you know that textiles – such as clothes, shoes, and towels – are taking up more and more space in landfills every year?  According to the EPA, Americans threw away over 11 million tons of textiles in 2018.

In San José, textiles are not accepted in curbside recycling bins or carts. However, that doesn’t mean that items like used clothes and shoes need to go to the landfill – there are many options to reuse, upcycle, or recycle your discarded items after you’re finished with them:

1. Donate – If your items are in good condition, consider donating them. Just be sure only to donate items that still have some life left in them. You can also check with friends, family, or neighbors to see if they’d like any items.
2. Turn them into cash – Clothing that is still in good condition can be turned into cash through online resellers or taken to a local consignment shop.
3. Give back – Before donating or selling, it’s also good to check whether your clothing brand takes back its old clothes. Some retailers also accept clothing for recycling and offer benefits such as discounts on your next purchase.
4. Repurpose – If your clothes are too worn to be donated, sold, or given back, consider repurposing them as cleaning cloths. Instead of buying reusable rags or washcloths, you can make your own from cut-up pieces of clothes.
5. Last Resort: Place in the Garbage – If you have tried options one through four and still need to discard your items, put them into your curbside garbage container.

Once you’ve cleaned items from your closet, you’ll want to ensure you don’t have to repeat the exercise very soon. Be mindful of what you buy – favoring quality purchases that will last and that you’ll look forward to wearing for many years to come. Consider shopping secondhand for clothes in thrift shops and consignment stores. If you just donated or sold your clothes, this will contribute to this more sustainable system.

Want more recycling and waste-related content? Subscribe to our bi-monthly e-newsletter, The Loop, for the most current recycling, garbage and waste reduction news: bit.ly/TheLoop_signup