Back-to-School, Not Back-to-the-Landfill: Give Clothes a Longer Life

 
As families prepare for a new school year, many closets are being cleaned out and shopping lists are getting longer. Back-to-school season is the perfect time to think beyond what we’re buying and consider what happens to the clothes we no longer need.Textiles are one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the United States.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans generated more than 17 million tons of textile waste in a single year. Of that, only about 15% was recycled, while 11.3 million tons ended up in landfills. Textiles now make up nearly 8% of all material sent to landfills.

Textiles = clothing, bedding, sheets, towels, belts, purses, backpacks, shoes, boots and sometimes pillows and stuffed animals.

The good news? We can all help change that by making thoughtful choices before, during, and after we shop.

Start by Buying Less, But Buying Better

The most sustainable piece of clothing is often the one that’s already in your closet.When it’s time to buy something new, look for clothing that is:
•             Made from durable, high-quality materials.
•             Designed to last through multiple seasons.
•             Easy to repair or pass along.
•             Made primarily from natural fibers like cotton, linen, hemp, or wool when practical.

Natural fibers generally shed fewer persistent microplastics than synthetic fabrics like polyester or acrylic, and many can be more easily repaired, reused, or recycled at the end of their lives.While higher-quality clothing may cost more upfront, it often lasts much longer, making it a better value over time.

Shop Secondhand First

Before heading to the mall, check out local thrift stores, consignment shops, and community resale or swap events. Shopping secondhand:
•             Saves money.
•             Keeps perfectly usable clothing in circulation.
•             Reduces demand for new clothing production.
•             Helps extend the life of garments that might otherwise be discarded.
Many families find nearly new school clothes, backpacks, jackets, and shoes at a fraction of the retail price.

Clean Out Closets the Right Way

When you’re making room for new clothes, take a few extra minutes to sort what you’re getting rid of.

Items in good condition can often be:
•             Donated to local nonprofit organizations.
•             Sold or consigned.
•             Shared with friends and family.
•             Given away through neighborhood groups.
•             Brought to community clothing swaps or swap shacks. 

Items that are stained, torn, or too worn to wear shouldn’t be placed in donation bins, where they can create additional work and disposal costs for charitable organizations. Instead, look for textile recycling programs that accept worn-out clothing, towels, sheets, shoes, and other fabrics.

Remember: Donation Isn’t the Same as Recycling

One of the biggest misconceptions is that every donated bag of clothing will find a new home.In reality, donation centers rely on receiving clean, wearable items that someone else would actually use. Clothing that is heavily worn, moldy, wet, or damaged often cannot be resold and may become a disposal expense for the organization receiving it.

A simple rule of thumb:
•             Would you happily give this item to a friend? Donate it.
•             Is it no longer wearable? Look for a textile recycling program instead; check with your local municipal recycling coordinator to learn if your town collects textiles for recycling at the transfer station, school, fire house or other public venue.

Taking a few moments to separate reusable clothing from recyclable textiles helps both charities and recycling programs operate more effectively.

Give Clothes Another Life

Across Connecticut, many communities are making it easier to keep textiles out of the trash. You may find:
•             Textile recycling collection bins.
•             Municipal recycling events.
•             School or community textile drives.
•             Clothing swap events.
•             Permanent swap shacks or free stores.
•             Repair cafés that help extend the life of clothing through mending and simple repairs. These programs help keep valuable materials in circulation while reducing waste. Check with your local recycling coordinator or transfer station for textile recycling options near you.

Every Shirt Counts

The textile waste problem wasn’t created overnight, and it won’t be solved overnight either. But every purchase, donation, repair, swap, and recycled garment helps move us toward a more circular economy.

This back-to-school season, consider asking a few simple questions before making a purchase:
•             Can I borrow it?
•             Can I find it secondhand?
•             Will it last for years, not just one season?
•             What will happen to it when I’m done with it? Small decisions made by thousands of households can make a meaningful difference. By buying thoughtfully, caring for our clothes, and disposing of them responsibly, we can reduce waste, save money, and keep more textiles out of Connecticut’s landfills.
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