Recycling Fabric to Save and Go Green
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Funny you posted this today. Yesterday I had button disapprear on my shorts. I am gutting it out though, thanks to a belt!
Personally I am not too handy with a sewing machine, so I usually donate my old clothes to Goodwill or local charities.
However, I do also do the same thing you do with old undershirts, which is to turn them into rags. The last time I did a major clean of my home, I actually cut up one of my shirts and it made an excellent rag.
I’m with you tiger, I have used a sewing machine and I would probably damage my clothes more than fix them. That’s why I get my fiancee to fix them for me 🙂
I agree that reusing is the easiest way to recycle fabric. But I do like donating whenever my clothes are in good enough condition. I would NEVER throw fabric away!
As a worker who sifts through tonnes of clothing every week that is donated to a charitable organization I have a couple of pointers. We really cannot make use of items full of pet hair, urine or items completely out of fashion. Most families that come to us do not want to look needy or dated, any more than you do. We landfill anything that is more than 10 years old that does not have excellent costume capabilities. We are a charitable organization that then pays to truck and dispose of all this waste. Please, put it in your own trash rather than wasting the time and energy to bring trash to us which then limits our abilities to help those we are trying to assist.
Is there such a company that takes worn out old textiles and clothes?
I have yet to find a good source other than Good Will or Salvation Army who are then tasked with discarding it.
Let me know if you know of a company like that.
Thanks
Robert
Our local recycling center takes all of the fabric scraps that result from quilting. Our guild donates these scraps (and they do add up over time) and they are sent back to NC for recycling into carpeting, we are told. Interesting.
Hi there,
We are looking for a company that recycles fabrics that are beyond reuse. Do you know the name of the company in NC? Thanks, Karen
I too, am looking for a company that recycles fabrics that are beyond use. I recently did a fund raising yard sale and lots of clothes were donated, unfortunately I have a large box full of stained, ripped clothing as well as boxers and underwear that do not re-sale. Does anyone have any suggestions what I might be able to do with this box? I hate the idea of just throwing it all away, but am limited on time. Thank you!
From all your unusable scraps, why not make rag rugs? There are great books available at the library on making different kinds of rag rugs. It’s so easy to set-up. You could have a few going at once and when one rag color is better suited to one rug, you work on that one, and so forth. The rugs can be sold when finished. Even cutting up underwear – that kind of fabric, could be woven into a rag rug. No fancy equipment needed to do it either, that’s the beauty and simplicity of rag rugs.
I wish there was more activity around recycling fabric. Most people are not going to take the time to reuse it themselves. However, most places that take used items, want them in good condition. What about those clothes that are just so worn out nobody would want to wear them? Every recycling center should include a bin for textiles (or PlanetAid needs to expand!).
there are companies that will take fabric for recycling just contact a recyclor in your area to find out if they can take for you or put you in contact with another
http://clothesforthecausefundraising.com/what-we-take/
•ALL clothes – even clothes that are stained, ripped, torn, burned or stretched out
•Shoes – single or paired
•Towels, Gloves & Hats, Sheets, Blankets, Quilts, Bedspreads, Drapes, Purses & Belts
They encourage pta moms to gather old clothing to donate from the school for fund raising for our public education paying a fair price for the textiles. And individuals can also sell to them. I am trying to find a location closer to me since they are in california