We have all had those bags, boxes, or items in our house or the back of our car, which we keep forgetting to donate. Eventually, they arrive, but what happens to the donated clothing or textiles after you drop them off can be alarming. According to Earth.com, approximately 92 tons of global textile waste are generated yearly, which is expected to double by 2030. The most important thing we can do is donate mindfully so that most of our donations DO NOT end up in landfills and significantly harm the environment. Better recycling practices help us help the environment. Reduce, reuse, and recycle are the keys to my life. Here are some of my tips and ideas for mindfully donating your clothes and other items, with purpose and sustainability in mind.

Let us start with the donation itself. First, please ensure that the clothes are clean and in the condition you would want if you purchased the same item. They should be free of stains and tears. This is the best way to ensure your items are resold or donated to someone in need. Additionally, donating seasonal clothes at the beginning of a season is beneficial to ensure they are immediately usable. If an item is household, please ensure it is not broken, usable, and void of cracks and chips (also making it an unsafe donation).

The following is imperative and will significantly reduce waste. Check with the donation center or thrift shop to get a clear picture of what is and is not accepted. When you drop off something a shop does not take, it ends up in the garbage and eventually a landfill. That is precisely what we do not want to happen. Additionally, the staff at thrift shops cannot emphasize enough how detrimental it is when donations are dropped off when a shop is closed, especially in inclement weather, as the donations become unusable and end up as garbage. Visit during the shop’s operating hours. Remember, volunteers run those small, independent thrift shops, and why waste precious volunteer time sorting and discarding what could have been usable donations? Of course, there is always Goodwill and the Salvation Army.

I have donated board games along with books to my local library. For books, there are Little Free Libraries across the country where you can both give and take a book. One just opened this week near me, and it’s such a great idea for our local community. Here is the link https://littlefreelibrary.org/. There is the Buy Nothing Project on Facebook, which so many local communities are involved in for many items. I have found this to be an excellent resource for giving away items I no longer use and receiving items I would not have to buy, as someone may be giving them away. I have given away everything, from food and clothing to décor and toiletries, and received the same in return. It is an excellent way to connect with a community of like-minded individuals who want to repurpose items they are no longer using or need.

I donate gently used business clothing to the Bottomless Closet in New York City, where they help disadvantaged women acquire the tools and resources they need to re-enter the workforce and achieve their career goals. Organizations like the Bottomless Closet, Dress for Success, and many others help individuals re-enter the workforce and may need business clothing, handbags, shoes, and accessories. You can also check your local house of worship to see if they are hosting a tag sale or rummage sale, or if they have families in need. Check your local homeless shelter to see what donations are most needed. They may also take household items for people transitioning into permanent housing. That would be great for the kitchen, bedding, and many other items you would like to have a second life with.

Some retailers, such as Eileen Fish, offer buy-back services for their products. Madewell Forever takes all types of clothing by mail, and DSW takes all kinds of shoes—check their website for details. Trashie’s Take Back Bag recycling program is user-friendly. You can purchase bags, fill them, and earn points in rewards for gift cards. Their goal is to redistribute or recycle your items in a responsible and environmentally friendly manner. The website provides valuable information about their activities.

I am trying to buy fewer items and only purchase quality products so that they last longer. Additionally, I strive to stay as far away from fast fashion as possible. Additionally, I try to repair and repurpose. Do you have items that require minor repairs to make them wearable again, especially for high-quality items? An inexpensive sewing kit and numerous YouTube videos (for the tricky repairs) can help you with this. Perhaps it just needs a good ironing or steaming — that could be all it needs to breathe new life into a piece of clothing. Do not throw out old sheets and blankets – check with your local animal shelter to see what they could use, and donate those items to help animals in need.

How we donate can positively impact the environment, especially in our local communities. If we donate mindfully, we play a crucial role in extending the lifespan of items no longer needed, and we can help save this beautiful planet for future generations.

I hope that you find this information helpful.

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!