Non-profits like Goodwill and the Salvation Army play a crucial role in keeping old clothes out of the waste stream. When they get donations of clothes that are too threadbare to re-sell in one of their shops, they send them to “rag sorters” that specialize in recycling pieces of fabric large and small. Says Hawley, these textile recyclers sell about half the clothing they get back overseas in developing countries, while unusable garments, especially cotton t-shirts, are turned into wiping and polishing clothes used by a variety of industries and sold to consumers. She adds that other textiles are shredded into fibers used to make new products, such as sound-deadening materials for the automotive industry, archival-quality paper, blankets and even plastic fencing.

EarthTalk: Recycling Worn Out Clothing. | The Good Human

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Sarah

Thanks for the information. I didn't know this.

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Check out my blog for freebies and money saving tips.http://barbainbabymomma.blogspot.com

Thank you for sharing this. I was once told that if it wouldn't be something that you would give to a friend, then you shouldn't be willing to donate it to a thrift store.

I didn't know they did this with unusable clothes, thank you. I was told once that they take socks with no mate and grind them up for stuffing for something.

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WAHM of 7!

I had no idea either! Thank you! I will usually still donate stained items cuz someone who is creative can usually get a stain out, but I always tossed the ripped up clothes. Thanks!

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~Missy~Mommy
Meghan9.Samantha7,Cameron5

New England Mommysavers Social Group, Join us!http://mommysavers.com/boards/group.php?groupid=10

good to know, thank you!!!

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married 8 years to a crazy Brit, mommy to a banana, she is 5 and a pineapple who is just about 2 , mommy to 4 ~angel~ babies

I use them for my own rags!

Me Too. I use every bit of them. Either for stuffing in homemade toys for the grandkids, rags, and socks go for polishing rags. My husband goes through a ton of them with the vehicle. I also use the material from dresses that I can for quilts, lining in my purses that I am selling or anything else. If an item is in really good condition or the material isn't something that I can recycle into something else then I donate it.

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My county recycles textiles so that's another option to think about. I just stick them in a bag labeled "textiles" and they get picked up on recycling day.

I really wish mine did that-so convenient!!! Where are you that the recycling program is so progressive?

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Sarah