What is Textile Recycling?
Textile Recycling is the process of transforming fiber, yarn or fabrics into new materials. This involves sorting and separating different types of textiles then shredding and reprocessing them into new fibers. Textile recycling helps to reduce waste, conserve resources, and reduce the environmental impact of textile production.
This is much needed considering 84.7% of textiles are sent to landfills every year. In fact, the growth of textile waste in the US outpaces every other major category of waste.
Sidebar: Some people use “textile recycling” to mean donating your clothes and other fabric products to continue its lifespan. While this is a technically accurate way to use the term, we prefer the term “textile reuse” to describe that activity.
We will be using “textile recycling” to describe the process of literally transforming old fiber, yarn and fabrics from your clothes, bedding, quilts, etc. into new products.
Benefits of Textile Recycling
Recycling your used clothes, blankets and sheets instead of throwing them away means you are contributing to the solution rather than the environmental problem. Textiles that are not properly recycled usually end up in a landfill.
According to the EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency), 11.3 million tons of textiles went to landfill whereas 2.5 million tons of textiles were recycled. That’s 8.8 million tons of textiles that could have been salvaged and repurposed that instead went to clogging landfills thus increasing pollution and water contamination.
Rather than throwing your textiles away, it behooves your conscience and the environment to recycle them. Here is why:
- Positive Environmental Impact: Recycling textiles reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps conserve natural resources.
- Resource Conservation: Recycling textiles requires less water and less energy compared to producing new textiles from raw materials. This helps reduce the overall energy consumption and carbon footprint associated with textile production.
- Economic Benefits: Recycling textiles can create new job opportunities in the recycling and refurbishing industries. This means more jobs in an industry that is benefitting the planet rather than one that is stripping it of its resources.
- Promotes a Circular Mentality: By recycling textiles, we can promote a proactive mindset when it comes to considering the lifecycle of our garments. We need to think of where this shirt, pants, pillowcase, etc. will end its use as thoughtfully as we considered where we purchased it from. This helps create a more sustainable, intentional pattern of thinking for generations to come.
Where can I Recycle Textiles?
Unless you have access to advanced fabric spinning machines and other industry-specific tools, we suggest you give your items to professionals. Here are a list of companies you can send your textiles to to be recycled:
- TerraCycle – Online recycling program with information on recycling everything from baby clothes to household cleaning containers.
- Fabscrap – Philadelphia and Brooklyn-based recycler that accepts clothing and other textile products or fabrics in bulk.
- Trashie – You purchase bags 9 or 15 lb Trashie bags, fill them with textiles you want to recycle and send them back to Trashie. With every donation you get rewarded with “TrashieCash” which can be redeemed for rewards.
- Phoenix Fibers – Arizona-based service that recycled denim and cotton fabric into shoddy fiber to used for home and insulation purposes.
- Wearable Collections – New York-based textile recycling service that accepts donations through city-wide bins, fundraising events and home pick-ups (for a fee).
- Green City Recycler – Texas-based service with textile recycling bins and donation pick-up service.
Where to Recycle Textiles Near Me
Textile recycling is still a fledgling industry, but you have options to consider beyond those that require buying something to ship. Here are some additional resources for recycling your items closer to home:
- Government Programs – Many municipalities offer local textile recycling options. Search “[city name] textile recycling programs” online to find offices near you where you can drop off garments.
- Charitable Drop-Offs – Some charitable organizations like the American Textile Recycling Service and Planet Aid accept clothes through standing bins. Simply locate a bin and place your clothes inside it for them to be recycled. These organizations also offer the option to Host a Bin so you can bring one to your community if none are near you.
By recycling your textiles instead of throwing them away you are making an intentional effort to cleaning up our planet and setting a great example for the generations that follow. Thank you!
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