RECYCLING SPOTLIGHT: HOW TO RECYCLE CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

Did you know that the average US Citizen throws away an average of 70 lbs. of clothing annually? The fashion industry is a major contributor to global pollution, generating about 10% of annual CO₂ emissions. Reusing, donating, or recycling clothing helps reduce its environmental impact.

Clean Out Your Closet—Responsibly

Finished cleaning out your closet and wondering what to do with all those clothes? It matters more than you might think. The fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global CO₂ emissions, and choosing reuse or recycling helps reduce its environmental impact.

Step 1: Sort It Out

Divide clothing and accessories into three groups:

  • Great condition: like new, no visible wear.
  • Good condition: gently worn but still wearable.
  • Poor condition: stained, torn, or worn out.

Step 2: Reuse What You Can

  • Clothing swaps & consignment stores: Perfect for great-condition items. Swap with friends or earn resale value while keeping clothing in circulation.

Step 3: Donate Gently Worn Items

  • Thrifty stores & charities: Donate good-condition clothing to organizations like Goodwill or Salvation Army, where proceeds often support community programs.

Step 4: Recycle What Can’t Be Worn

  • Skip donating damaged clothing and recycle it instead. Many retailers—including Patagonia, H&M, and American Eagle—accept textiles from any brand for recycling. Use a Recycling Locator to find drop-off sites near you.

Step 5: Use Mail-In Recycling Options

No drop-ok nearby? Try these mail-in services:

  • Terracycle Zero Waste Box: Prepaid boxes for all textiles, recycled into insulation and cleaning cloths.
  • Retold Recycling: Prepaid mail-in bags (up to 5 lbs.) for clothing and household textiles—nothing goes to landfill.
  • Everywhere Apparel: Mail in clothing from any brand to be turned into recycled cotton products and receive a $5 store credit.

Quick FAQs

  • How do I find a consignment store? A quick online search will reveal local options and keep resale dollars in your community.
  • What happens to recycled clothing? Items are sorted by condition and material, then reused, shredded into fiberfill, made into rags, or recycled into insulation.
  • What about old eyewear? Donate glasses at LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, or Target Optical through the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and Lions Clubs.
  • What about shoes? Swap or sell pairs in great shape, donate gently worn footwear, and recycle damaged shoes through textile recycling programs.

Small choices in your closet can make a big difference for the planet.

Sources: Earth911.com

Back

More News

Apr 27, 2026

RECYCLING SPOTLIGHT: THERE IS NO PLAN B - THE IMPORTANCE OF RECYCLING

There’s only one Earth — and it’s up to all of us to help take care of it. Why Recycling Matters: ♻️ Reduces Landfill WasteItems that can be recycled take up unnecessary space in landfills. Recycling keeps usable materials in circulation instead of buried in the ground. 🌳 Conserves Natural ResourcesRecycling paper saves trees. Recycling aluminum saves […]

Read More
Apr 21, 2026

MAY IS MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PERSONS (MMIP) AWARENESS MONTH

May is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to the high rates of violence experienced by Native American and Alaska Native communities. MMIP highlights the urgent need to address the number of Indigenous people who go missing or are murdered each year. Native communities face higher rates of […]

Read More
Apr 2, 2026

APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and support for survivors. Sexual violence can happen anywhere, in any community, and affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, including Native American communities, who are disproportionately impacted. Sexual violence means any unwanted sexual contact or behavior without consent. This can include rape, […]

Read More
Apr 2, 2026

RECYCLING SPOTLIGHT: THE 9% PLASTIC REALITY

Plastic production has grown rapidly over the past 60 years, creating an estimated 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic—most of it used in disposable products that quickly become trash. Of that total, about 6.3 billion metric tons has already become waste. Despite widespread recycling eaorts, only about 9% of plastic waste has been recycled. Around […]

Read More
Mar 9, 2026

WEEMEYAKWE: COMING HOME -- CATAHECASSA'S 1816 VISIT TO EASTERN CLARK COUNTY, KENTUCKY

By A. Gwynn Henderson and David Pollack On September 7, 1816, readers skimming the Niles’ Weekly Register might have noticed a story about two groups of Shawnee men visiting central Kentucky. It appears on a page with a variety of national and international news: an accounting of how many immigrants had arrived in America, details […]

Read More
Mar 5, 2026

CELEBRATING AMERICA RECYCLES DAY AT THE MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION RECYCLING EVENT!

On November 15, Shawnee Tribe’s Environmental Manager, Cindy Riley, participated in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s recycling event to explore new ways of collecting and processing materials—from electronics and batteries to tires, and many more items—and to bring those best practices back to our own tribal community. Key takeaways: Next steps: Together, we can grow our […]

Read More
Mar 4, 2026

RECYCLING SPOTLIGHT: TINY BUT TOXIC - BUTTON BATTERIES

Button cell batteries are the small, flat, round batteries found in watches, hearing aids, key fobs, calculators, toys, and medical devices. They may be tiny, but they contain valuable materials and can create safety hazards if thrown in the trash. Because they are so small, button batteries are often tossed with household waste. However, lithium […]

Read More
Mar 2, 2026

WRAP UP: TEMPORARY EMERGENCY FOOD BENEFIT ASSISTANCE

On October 22, 2025, the Shawnee Tribe was notified that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would pause operations during the month of November due to a protracted government shutdown. In response, the Shawnee Tribe developed the Temporary Emergency Food Benefit Assistance Program, which was established by October 29, 2025, to support Shawnee Tribe families […]

Read More
See All News