If you’d like to be environmentally conscious and recycle, but are not sure what can be recycled, the answer is simple: nearly everything can be recycled or reused. Of course paper, plastics and glass can be recycled – everyone knows that. But food can be composted, and used clothing and household items can be donated to charities that will use them to help those in need. In fact many charities will even set up a used clothing pick up, depending on the number of items you have.
Should you donate clothes to charity?
It’s easy to bring your used clothes to a drop-off or to set up a used clothing pick up. When you make a clothing donation, you’re doing several good things all at one go.
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You’re helping the environment by keeping your used clothing or household goods out of landfills. By choosing to set up a used clothing pick up, you’re joining the people who recycled or donated around 2 million tons of clothing and textiles in 2011. There’s still a long way to go, however: in the same year, around 90% of the clothing or textiles that were thrown out could have been reused. That’s an estimated 12 million tons of clothing and textile going to waste each year. However, you can help to close the gap with a used clothing pick up to benefit charities.
- You’re helping charities help those in need, like the blind and veterans. The clothes are sold through thrift stores and the proceeds are used to fund programs for the blind and for veterans. These include practical help like job training and placement programs, putting people on the road to self-sufficiency.
- You can claim the value of your donations as deductions when it comes to filing your tax returns. If you choose a reputable, registered non-profit to donate your used clothing and household goods, you can get a receipt for the value of your donation. You should preserve the receipt along with your other tax documents.
- You’re clearing out your closets and streamlining your life. Most people have closets full of clothes they never wear. Once you resolve to get rid of them, it’s easy to do: if there’s anything in your closet that you haven’t worn for three to six months or more, you don’t really need it. Plus the knowledge that you’re helping others makes it easy to get rid of the excess stuff.
Donating clothing to charity can go a long way towards helping families in need. You may be tired of those clothes but to someone who can’t afford a new dress or a pretty pair of shoes, your old clothes will be worth a lot. Warm clothing like coats and boots are always an expense and with clothing donations, people get good quality items for very little.
Where can I donate clothes?
Many charities have drop-off boxes at convenient locations. If you have a large amount, they will schedule a used clothing pick up to save you the trouble of finding a way to transport it all. Tell your friends and family that they can recycle their used clothing in a positive manner as well. Most people are drowning in a mountain of stuff and don’t quite know how to get rid of it. Clothing donations to charity are one of the solutions to clutter.
