When we clean out our closets and drop off bags of gently used clothes, many of us believe that these items are destined to find new life with someone in need. It feels good to donate, knowing we’re contributing to a charitable cause. But the reality is more complex: a significant portion of donated clothing is never reused, resold, or worn by others. Instead, it’s thrown away, adding to the growing problem of textile waste.
The disposal of donated clothing has become a hidden crisis in the world of waste management. But what exactly happens to your donations once they leave your hands, and what can we do to address this issue?
How Much Donated Clothing Is Actually Thrown Away?
Every year, millions of tons of textiles are donated to charities and thrift stores. However, not all of it finds a second life. In the United States alone, it is estimated that around 85% of all textiles (including donated clothing) end up in landfills or incinerators, rather than being reused or recycled. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 4.9 million tons of textiles are discarded annually, and while 95% of these materials can be recycled, only a fraction is actually processed in an environmentally responsible way. But why is so much donated clothing discarded?
Why Donated Clothing Often Ends Up in Landfills
Condition of the Clothes
While many of us may donate clothes that are still in good shape, some garments are stained, torn, or worn out. Charities are often inundated with items that are not usable or resellable, and these are often rejected or sent to recycling centers. The EPA reports that nearly 60% of textiles donated to charity shops are considered unsuitable for resale.
Overwhelming Volumes of Donations
Donation centers, thrift shops, and charities often receive more clothing than they can process. For example, Goodwill has stated that it can only sell 20% to 30% of the clothing donations it receives. The rest is either sold to textile recycling firms, sold off to the bulk buyers which is typically shipped overseas, or thrown away.
Global Surplus
Donated clothing is not only distributed locally but often shipped overseas to developing countries, like Ghana. However, these markets are often flooded with unwanted goods, resulting in local textile industries being overwhelmed and a considerable amount of pollution and landfill as a result. A report from the UN Environment Programme found that up to 50% of donated clothes shipped overseas end up being discarded or dumped, creating waste in countries already struggling with their own textile waste management.
Limited Recycling Options
While some clothing can be recycled into rags, insulation, or other products, textile recycling is still a developing industry. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, only 1% of the material used to make clothes is recycled into new garments, which means the vast majority of clothing ends up in landfills or incinerators. These technologies are beginning to scale, however, so this solution could ramp up and become more viable in the coming decade
The Environmental Impact
The environmental consequences of throwing away donated clothing are far-reaching. According to the World Economic Forum, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. When clothes end up in landfills, the situation worsens. Synthetic fibers like polyester take hundreds of years to decompose, leaching toxic chemicals into the soil and break down into microplastics that eventually find their way into our water and food supplies.
What Can Be Done About It?
The good news is that there are actions we can take—individually and collectively—to reduce the amount of clothing waste from donations. Here are some practical steps that we believe in a Circular Fashion LA to help ensure your donations are truly making a positive impact:
1. Shop Secondhand, Don’t Just Donate
Thrift stores and secondhand shops rely on the sale of donated clothes to fund their charitable programs and prevent clothes from being thrown away. The more we buy secondhand, the less likely it is that donations will sit unsold. Supporting secondhand shops helps ensure that clothes move from the donation bin to the customer, rather than being discarded. Plus, it’s a great way to reduce our reliance on new clothing, which is a significant contributor to textile waste.
Remember - you are not recycling unless you buy recycled products! Purchasing second-hand, upcycled and recycled is the ONLY way to keep the cycle moving and keep these great organizations in business!
Check out our Circular Closet Subscriptions and let us do all the work of scouring secondhand racks for you! We're like your own personal second hand shopper where you receive thoughtful, curated outfits according to your size, fit and style preferences!
Upcycle and Repair Your Clothes
This is what we live for here at Circular Fashion LA! Repair is our JAM and we hope it becomes yours too!
Instead of discarding or donating everything you no longer need, consider repairing or upcycling your clothes. Small repairs can breathe new life into an item, while creative upcycling—such as turning old shirts into bags or quilts—can reduce the need for new textiles. Many people are rediscovering sewing and mending as a sustainable way to extend the life of their clothing. But you don't know how to sew or don't have the time, let us do it for you!
3. Support Circular Fashion Brands
Some clothing brands and initiatives are helping to close the loop on fashion waste. Brands that embrace a circular model take back used garments to recycle or repurpose them into new products, like us!
There are a lot of great brands doing mission-driven work and you should seek to support these brands (including us here at Circular Fashion LA!)
Donate Responsibly
Before donating, consider the quality of your clothes. Are they still wearable and in good condition? If not, it may be better to recycle them rather than donating them.
For instance, here at Circular Fashion LA - we supply rags to our in-house neighbors in various welding and prototyping labs that are cut from unsellable cotton-like clothing. What we can't use is sent to amazing local collectors and sorters like Homeboy Threads, who aggregates materials into the bulk supplies that recyclers want to accept.
5. Push for Better Textile Recycling
While textile recycling technology exists, it’s still not widely implemented. You can advocate for local or national policies that promote the development of textile recycling infrastructure.
Here in California, the state just approved the new Textile Recycling and Reuse Bill SB707, in order to start ensuring producers take End-of-Life responsibility for the products they sale.
Supporting initiatives like The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s “Make Fashion Circular” can help push the fashion industry toward a more sustainable future.
6. Educate Others and Spread Awareness
The more we understand the textile waste problem, the more we can make mindful decisions about how we dispose of our clothes. Share information about textile waste with friends and family and encourage others to think about the impact of their clothing donations. The more people who are aware of the issue, the more likely we are to see systemic change in how we handle clothing waste.
Sources:
EPA Report on Textile Waste: EPA Textiles and Waste
Ellen MacArthur Foundation on Circular Fashion: Ellen MacArthur Foundation - Fashion and Circular Economy
Goodwill’s Donation Information: Goodwill Donation Guidelines
World Economic Forum on Fashion and Waste: WEF - Environmental Cost of Fashion
UN Environment Programme Report on Textile Waste: UN Environment on Textiles
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