What’s the best/your favorite way to recycle or get rid of old textiles that can’t be donated? Things like blankets, pillows, etc! Most thrift stores in CA won’t take stuff like that but it feels wrong to put it in the trash!

Question

Noelle · Answer

Check your local dump: They might have a textile recycling program. Mine accepts all but mildewy or hazardous-waste contaminated clothes.

JaperMoon · Answer

Goodwill is the answer: Goodwill claims that whatever they deem unsellable, they will give (sell?) to recycling centers, specifically fabric but i think also electronics.

I asked someone at their drop-off center in San Francisco and that’s what they told me.

For any NYers with a similar request, a lot of the farmers markets have textile recycling once a month, you can look up the schedule.

Hannah Harvey · Answer

Trashie bags for closet cleanouts: i love trashie. they take textiles/clothes/shoes/accessories in any condition, so you can send them whatever isn't good enough to donate. trashie sends you these bags (you can buy one at a time or a pack for a larger decluttering project), which fit 15 lbs of stuff. all you do is fill em up and send them back with UPS or FedEx. they recycle your stuff, and you get cash back $$$

OH and they also have a trashie box for old electronics!

madison may · Answer

Creative reuse centers: Creative reuse centers are holy grails for offloading items like that. I work in the craft industry, and my peers are constantly scrounging around creative reuse shops looking for objects to upcycle, especially textiles! This is a random one in CA I googled, but a quick search will pull up if there’s one near you.

Rob · Answer

Molly Mutt Dog Beds: cotton but tough pet bed covers that come unstuffed— and you fill them with old blankets, towels, pillows.

Lily · Answer

local animal shelter!: the one near me accepts sheets and blankets! probably to line the kennels🥹