Source: Pexels
Have you ever wondered what happens to the clothes you place in donation bins and where they end up? Well, look no further, as we will be clearing all your doubts and simplifying the entire process, from donation to distribution.
The final destination of clothes you donate depends mainly on the condition of those clothes. Some donated clothes go to the shelves of a thrift store, get sent to another country, or channeled directly to people in need. Read on to learn all that is there to know about the donation process and how donated clothes are sent back into active use.
Step #1: Used Clothes Donation Process
Source: Pexels
A cleared out closet can be very refreshing, the decluttering and getting ready for donation process on the other hand can seem daunting and overwhelming. Here is a simple guide to help you out:
-
Finding a Donation Bin
Finding a donation bin is simple, you will usually find one at public community centers and bus stops. If you are unable to find one, you can go on Google and search “donation bins near me.” Some organizations also make donation easier for you by offering pickup services, e.g, AMVETS, Salvation Army, The Arc, etc.
-
What to Donate
All kinds of clothing items can be donated, required that they are in great condition, not discolored or worn out. Also, when deciding on what to donate, prioritize clothes that are in season. Donate winter used clothing when it’s cold, and lighter ones in the summer when it’s hot. This ensures that they are rehomed immediately and not just sitting on a shelf.
-
Preparing Your Clothes for Donation
The main purpose of donating is so that your clothes can end up in the closet of people who need it, or sold and the money given to charity. However, if you donate used clothes that are dirty or wet, they will be sent off to recyclers instead, beating the purpose you had hoped it would serve.
It is therefore advisable that you wash the clothes you want to donate, dry them, and fold neatly. If there is any worn out button, or repairable faults, endeavor to try and get those fixed before donating.
-
Placing Clothes in the Bin
If you are going to be placing the clothes in a donation bin, make sure they are neatly folded into light and reusable bags. For ease of distribution, you can sort each type of clothes in different bags, and try to tag each one appropriately.
Step #2: Used Clothes Collection and Sorting
This is the middle stage between donation and distribution, probably the most important too. Itinvolves the sorting and categorizing of the used clothes.
-
Sorting by Type of Clothing
For this process, there are workers who are trained to sort through used clothes in bulk and separate the good from the bad, the excellent from the fair. At this stage, clothes that can not be sold, probably as a result of damage, dirt, or even wetness, are removed and sent to other places that are not stores or closets.
-
Categorizing by Season and Size
Your donations are sorted at this stage, by size, seasons, and brand names. Summer used clothings is separated from winter wear. This is the part that helps to determine how much the clothes will be sold for.
Step #3: The Journey of Usable Clothes
The condition of the clothes you donate will determine their eventual journey, whether through local stores, charities, overseas, recycling companies, etc. According to a study, about 10-20% of second hand clothes in bulk donated in the US are resold in the country, while another 10-20% gets repurposed into rags or insulation. How do these clothes really move?
Distribution to Thrift Stores
Your donated clothes that are in excellent condition are sent to thrift stores as second hand clothes bales, where they are sold. The proceeds are used to fund charitable programs and events. Goodwill and Salvation Army are examples of thrift stores that get donated materials.
A manager of sustainability at Goodwill confirmed that in 2021, the thrift store received over 107 million in second hand clothes and used shoes bulk, amounting to about 5.7 billion pounds.
Clothes Sent to Charities
During sorting, while some clothes are assigned to be sold, others just go directly to the charity houses where they are given to the needy. This does not mean that donations to thrift stores are not charitable, in fact, they are. Thrift stores like Goodwill use all of its profits for charity, after only removing costs of operation.
What Happens to Clothes That Can’t Be Sold
Sustainability being one of the major tenets of donations (aside kindness), all steps to ensure that used clothes do not end up in landfills are taken. What then happens to clothes that can not be sold?
Recycling Textiles
Clothes that are considered not fit to be sold at thrift stores are sent to companies that recycle textiles. Usually, the recyclers could pay a little amount for it based on the cost per pound. The clothes can then be processed to be used as materials for products.
Repurposing Materials
Some of the clothes that can not be sold are repurposed for other uses, like rags, fiber filling, insulation, etc.
Benefits of Donating Used Clothes
There are numerous benefits and reasons for you to donate your used clothes asides the act of kindness, instead of condemning them as garbage. Some of the benefits include:
1. Reducing Landfill Waste
Used clothes amounting to billions of pounds in weight end up in landfills every year, the UK alone accounts for over 300,000 tonnes of textile wastes in landfills yearly. Those are very horrendous numbers. When you donate your clothes, you have reduced the number of clothes that end up in landfills for that year.
2. Conserving Resources
Donating used clothes helps to conserve the resources that would have been otherwise used in the production of new clothes. When used clothes are reowned, it caters to the fashion needs of multiple people without the need for more resources.
3. Sustainable Fashion Movement
We currently live in a world where climate change is a prevailing issue and directly affects our existence, every action to battle it counts. Donating your clothes to be reused is a step towards sustainability and reducing your environmental footprint.
4. Economic and Social Benefits
When you donate your used clothes, you have helped to make decisions that offer economic and social benefits to your community. It is cheaper for a used clothing supplier that deals in used clothing bales to get your donations to the less advantaged people who need it, than for fast fashion brands to provide clothing for them.
Conclusion
Donating clothes you no longer use, or have rarely ever worn is a great thing, because not only does it help to clear your space, you also perform your humanitarian duties to mankind and the environment. Therefore, it is important to know what happened to clothes in donation bins, as this helps you to make up your mind about donating.
