March 04, 2024
It's coming up on spring and a lot of people are starting to think about closet cleanouts. One thing we might not think about a lot is what happens to our clothing when we are finished with it. A lot of people turn to donation thinking that it’s an easy way to get rid of your clothes without actually throwing them away.
We’re starting to learn now though that our donated clothes aren't always used the way we expect them to be.
“Goodwill receives billions of pounds of donations every year,” much of which is used clothing, says Brittany Dickinson, manager of sustainability for Goodwill Industries International.
In 2021, according to Dickinson, Goodwill handled more than 107 million donations of used goods, totaling around 5.7 billion pounds. (Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/01/04/how-to-donate-clothes-waste-environment/)
Not to mention that donation centers like Goodwill and Salvation Army are constantly proving to be terrible companies pushing religious beliefs and exploiting their tax exempt status for soaring profits. But not to worry, I have a couple of other solutions for you:
If you need to get rid of your closet cleanouts asap and just want to donate, first make sure your clothes are in the best condition possible. Garments should be clean and free of pet hair or lint. Check any pockets for trash or personal items. If your clothes have rips or missing buttons, try mending and repairing before donating.
Where to donate in person in Los Angeles:
https://downtownwomenscenter.org/donate-goods/
https://www.alexandriahouse.org/gently_used
https://211la.org/resources/service/work-clothing-donation-programs
https://www.beaconhousethrift.org/donation_acceptance_policy/
If you have the time to sell your clothing I have some resources for that too. It takes more time and effort, but this way you are ensuring that someone who needs or really wants the item is getting it. You're not sending it off to the donation bin hoping that someone else has the same specific style as you. Here are some of my favorite online reselling apps:
If you’re LA local you can try selling to some of the secondhand shops around here:
My favorite solution is to host a clothing swap! Just get all your friends together and have everyone bring their closet cleanouts. It’s fun and you might find something you really like as well.
Ultimately we should all be shopping less and shopping consciously. We should be thinking about the full cycle of our clothes when considering what to add to our wardrobe. Where does it go when you’re finished with it?
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