The Magazine of The Sierra Club
Where Do I Recycle Worn Underwear?
The best thing you can do is conserve
Illustration by Loris Lora
Hey Ms. Green,
What's the greenest thing I can do with my family's unusable clothing, such as old underwear, socks, swimwear, bras, and pantyhose? I don't want to add more to the dump.
—Liz in Los Angeles, California
I'm all for ditching bras, but tossing them into the garbage isn't the best way to channel one's inner goddess. A McKinsey study found that from 2000 to 2014, the number of garments purchased each year by the average consumer increased by 60 percent. In the United States, approximately 11 million tons of textiles are tossed into the landfill annually. Even if old clothes get recycled into something like insulation, most textiles can only be recycled once.
One of the best things you can do is conserve: Buy less, and buy longer-lasting garments such as those made with 100 percent cotton, hemp, or linen. Wash them less, and use cold water on the delicate cycle. One study found that, unlike synthetic fabrics, natural fabrics don't trap smelly compounds produced by bacteria. They're also easier to recycle. Plus, synthetic fabrics shed up to 1.5 million toxic plastic microfibers per laundry load.
The company Knickey will recycle your intimates and offers an easy-to-download shipping label. When you recycle, Knickey sends you a free pair of organic underwear with your next order. You can also donate your old clothes to USAgain (find your nearest drop box at usagain.com).
