Waste not, want not and recycle clothing.

Instead of throwing clothing into the garbage, recycle it!
 
I recently became aware of this concept last month during April's celebration of Earth Day. I noticed a few retailers offering discounts at their stores in exchange for customers’ unusable clothing.
 
While I didn’t jump on board with bringing my many sacks of clothing into the store, I did start sorting a few sacks with the following categories:

1. Donate - Last week, I sent my donation bags and boxes to my local clothing donation recycle drop box provided by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). This is just one of the options available to me in my area – there are many other organizations to choose from.
2. Consign - The consignment sacks include items that are gently worn – you know – looks good in the fitting room so you buy it, wear it once and realize that article was not meant for you! I first started consigning my daughter’s toys and gently worn clothing at a local shop. I receive a monthly check with very little effort. I follow Joshua Becker’s Becoming Minimalist blog, who recommends just taking our things directly to donation. I find this to be productive on the little random things around the house; however, when it comes to furniture and other big ticket items, I find it worth a little extra effort to stop by a local consignment shop. Some shops will pick up for no charge.
3. Recycle - Think about every item you throw away that you thought was useless. The mismatched sock, the stained shirt, those jeans that ripped in the – ahem – most inconvenient place. You can find a home for those items as well. I found a great infographic that explains the efforts of textile recycling and offers resources in finding recycling boxes.

I probably put way too much time and energy into thinking about where my clothes end up, but I feel it’s important. Keeping clothing out of our landfills, or filling up our closets, are ways to contribute to a more organized home and a cleaner environment.

Where is your favorite drop-off location?