Many individuals that live within the United States are concerned with helping others as well as the environment. As a result, they make used clothing and household textile donations rather than throwing these items away. Even though roughly 4.7 billion pounds of clothing are donated every year, 10.5 million tons continues to end up in the country’s landfills.
Are you aware of how many pounds of clothes, linens, and other types of textiles are thrown away every year? This amounts to almost 70 pounds per person, which can obviously add up. Textiles alone are responsible for five percent of municipal waste. This is because just 15% of these items are recycled rather than thrown away. It’s been found that Americans either recycle or donate just 15% of the clothing that they no longer wear. Since there are so many charitable organizations that accept clothing donations, it’s surprising that more people aren’t choosing to make donations.
On a more positive note, 45% of used clothing is worn again after being purchased at charity stores. When individuals and families need more clothes, many will shop at these types of stores rather than the mall. Furthermore, it’s not unusual to be able to find just what is needed given the wide variety of items.
If you’re not sure what type of clothes or household textiles to donate, it’s important to note that the condition doesn’t matter. Nearly 100% of these items can be recycled if they’re no longer in a condition to be used again. For instance, when you haven’t worn a sweater, coat, or other type of garment for about six months, it may be time to donate it. This is particularly the case if you live in an area that has one to two seasons. Since children can outgrow their clothes so quickly, you may also want to go through their dressers and closets to find items that won’t fit them any longer.
Are you active on social media? Then you may want to post that you’re planning to make a charitable donation. A recent survey found that 70% of social media users will respond to these types of posts. In addition to making donations themselves, they may also spread words of encouragement or take other types of action, such as volunteering their time.
There are a variety of philanthropic organizations that are looking for donations. Wounded veterans charities, in particular, are looking for donations such as used clothing and household textiles. When you make household donations to The Military Order of the Purple Heart, for example, you are helping military families and others in need. It’s also important to know that organizations looking for donations are willing to pick them up at your home. This added convenience may just inspire you to make donations on a regular basis.
