Is that a crispness I detect in the air? Fall has finally arrived, and that means sweater weather is here! When you are bringing down your boxes of fall clothes and putting away your shorts and tank tops – don’t forget to keep our three R’s in mind! Reduce, reuse and recycle those clothes.
We’ve compiled a few tips!
Reduce
You are already on the right track when it comes to reducing clothing waste! By saving your seasonal attire, you cut down on the number of new pieces you will have to purchase each year.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
• While big plastic totes are often popular for storing clothing, take advantage of any large shipping boxes you may have to keep them in instead. This will give both the boxes and clothes a second life!
• When you open your fall clothes box and discover things that don’t fit or will no longer be something you’ll wear, donate it to friends or family, or to the thrift store!
• Packing away is not just for clothes! Instead of repurchasing outdoor toys such as water guns, bubble wands, shovels and buckets, pool toys, etc., clean off the ones you can salvage and save them for next year!
• Take a good inventory of how much clothing you actually used during the season. Keep in mind what you might need next year. By figuring that out ahead of time, it helps resist the urge to go on a shopping spree when the weather changes and keeps you from buying things you don’t need.
Reuse
The very act of saving your seasonal clothing is participating in reuse…but there are more things you can do!
• Search for any missing pieces you might need for your fall wardrobe at the thrift or consignment stores before purchasing new.
• If something doesn’t fit or is no longer your style, donate it to a community or a thrift store. Or, you can utilize one of the several consignment stores we have in the community. You could contribute to keeping someone warm this winter!
• Does your favorite sweater or pair of jeans have some damage? Patch, don’t trash! We’ve gotten out of the habit of mending our clothes, but there are so many modern ways to do so that make it easier than ever. You can ask your friends or family for advice…or even someone at the local craft shop!
Recycle
Finally, if that hoodie is too well-loved that it has started falling apart, or those clothes have a stain that just won’t come out of them, it may be time to say goodbye. But that doesn’t mean your clothes should head to the landfill!
Both Goodwill and Neighbors of Hope accept donations of textiles (clothing, bedding, etc.), even if they might be up to resale standards in the shops. These textiles get sold as a recyclable and start a new life as something else…often as industrial rags.
While bringing out your fall clothes seems like a simple household chore, you can help contribute to sustainability in your community by keeping the three R’s in mind.