Wanted: Old Socks!

On average a person discards 70 pounds of textiles each year that end up in landfills or incinerated, yet almost 100% of textile waste can be recycled regardless of its condition. 

Many people don’t know that items such as: clothes with rips and stains, throw rugs, curtains, old towels, sheets, worn out blankets, bed pillows, stuffed animals, single sneakers or shoes, flip flops, pocketbooks, woolens, stained silks, fabrics, undergarments and, yes, old socks are highly desired on the secondary recycling market.

Most charitable organizations* that accept clothing also accept textiles like those mentioned above. Typically these charities have the infrastructure in place to sort out and transfer material to textile recovery facilities that can’t be ‘reused as received.’

Some of these so called ‘undesirable’ textiles are converted into wiping and polishing cloths. Cotton can be made into rags or form a component for new high-quality paper. Woolens and woven materials are "pulled" into a fibrous state for reuse. Other types of fabric are reprocessed into fibers for upholstery, emergency shelter blankets, rug pads, and insulation. Buttons and zippers are stripped off for reuse. Very little is left over at the end of the recycling process. The remaining natural materials, such as various grades of cotton, are composted. 

So, the next time you make a clothing donation, include the ‘undesirable’ textiles as well.  Your actions will support the recycling industry and related jobs, help reuse and conserve natural materials, and reduce municipal solid waste and the associated disposal fees. Take the extra step to be sure that your donated items are clean and dry, without mildew or hazardous stains. That way they will be recycled to the fullest extent.

(*Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Army, and St. Vicent de Paul to name a few.)