Recycle Shoes & Clothing by Giving to Good Causes

When you buy new styles for the season, recycle shoes and clothing that you no longer want.

The EPA estimated that in 2007, clothing and other textiles were 4.7% of municipal waste generation.

According to the commercial recycling company U'SAgain, almost 100% of the textiles thrown in landfills are recyclable.

Donate Clothes & Textiles

Gently Used: For gently used items, consider donating to your local clothing bank. Organizations like Goodwill and Salvation Army will gladly accept them. You can also donate curtains, sheets, towels and other textiles to these charitable organizations. Get a receipt and also benefit from a tax deduction.

Old & Worn: For items that are old and worn, consider using them for clean-up duties around the house. Many animal shelters will accept old clothing and blankets for pet bedding. You can also check Earth 911 for locations in your area that recycle clothing into upholstery and seat stuffing.

Donate & Recycle Shoes

If they are in good condition, you can donate shoes to local clothing banks. If you've worn through the tread, send shoes to Nike's Reuse a Shoe program for recycling.

Have a pile of old sandals hanging out in the garage? Crocs will accept their worn shoes back.

To recycle flip flops of all types and brands, send them to SubstanceStyleSoul. They will ship them to UniquEco, a Kenya based foundation that recycles beach pollution into new products.