Getting Rid of Unwanted Clothes and Gear the Sustainable Way
Did you know the average American throws away about 70 lbs of clothes per year?
Shocking, right? Although most of you probably don’t get rid of this many clothes per year, you probably have clothes or shoes (or outdoor gear) in the depths of your closet that need to be disposed of somehow (hello, quarantine cleaning). However, keeping clothes out of the landfill is more difficult than you think, since many thrift stores and homeless shelters throw away the donated clothes they can’t use. Fortunately, there is hope! With the help of the resources below, you can be well on your way to getting rid of your unwanted clothes sustainably.
Stylish Clothes or Functional Gear in Good Shape: Resell
Instagram: If you have a relatively large group of followers that you think might be interested in your clothes or gear, try selling it on your story. Before posting a price, consider how much it will cost to ship or ask the buyer to pay for shipping. Sometimes people choose to list both a price and “OBO” (or best offer). This can be useful if you really want to get it off your hands, but will mean you will likely get less for it than you asked. Once someone decides to buy it, give them your Cashtag or Venmo and ship your clothes to a lovely new home!
Other second-hand clothing apps: thredUP and Poshmark are popular and trustworthy online resellers that help you share your items with a larger audience. Read each company’s resell policies to see which one will work best for you.
Local or Online Gear Swaps: Nimble Voyager has an excellent article on where and how to sell unwanted gear effectively.
Really Gross Old Clothes (or Clothes/Gear No One Would Buy): Upcycle
Reshape: Cut that poorly-fitting t-shirt into a comfy pajama crop-top or slice off the sleeves for a sweet sleeveless cut-off shirt to wear to the gym. Jeans can be turned into shorts with a quick snip, or you can distress them yourself to make them ready for summer.
Repurpose Gear: Old pieces of gear can have a multitude of new uses. An old carabiner that needs to be retired can become your new keychain. A retired snowboard can become a backyard swing. The possibilities are endless (and so are the Pinterest pages that can help you discover these possibilities).
Rags: Cutting up old t-shirts, sweatpants, underwear, etc. make good rags, washcloths, or even reusable make-up remover rounds. Pinterest also has hundreds of other creative ways to upcycle old clothes.
Other Clothes or Gear that You Just Can’t Reclaim: Recycle
Donate: Only do this if your clothes are in good shape (no holes, stains etc.) but can’t be sold (or you don’t have the time to sell). Again, remember that clothes that people don’t buy from these places get thrown away, so make sure your clothes are wearable (both physically and stylistically).
Use a recycle program: There are so many programs that turn your clothes and shoes into useful things such as car seat stuffing or running tracks. There is a pretty comprehensive list in an article by Trash is for Tossers.
Recycle old gear: Take your old gear apart into its separate components and recycle it accordingly, or use Terracycle if the gear is made of difficult-to-recycle materials. Although Terracycle can cost money depending on what you are recycling, it is worth the investment for our earth.
I have an absolutely lovely Patagonia Synchilla Pullover that I got sophomore year of college. However, I accidentally got a size too big which was cozy, but still too big in the end. Unfortunately, I did not return it in time (school is somehow always too busy), so it has been moping in my closet since then. I keep thinking I can just wear it on drizzly overcast days that beg for cozy fleeces and I even get compliments when I do wear it, but it still does not fit the way I would like it to. I have finally decided it's time to get rid of it and replace it with a fleece I love for all its characteristics. It will be my project this week! How will you get rid of your unwanted clothes?