A Guide to Niche Recycling
Wondering where to send your old clothes, skincare, shoes or packaging?
Wondering where to send your old clothes, skincare, shoes or packaging?
America’s recycling system is not in ideal shape. Simply throwing plastics in the recycling bin isn’t cutting it any longer and more specific recycling needs are necessary. Read on for niche options when you’re looking for a place to repurpose things like your old swimwear, shoes, toys, DVDs or socks.
Everything and then some | Terracycle
Terracycle offers recycling programs in partnership with a wide array of companies from skincare brands like Burt’s Bees, DECIEM and Acure to packaged food brands like Terra and Kroger. You can even recycle your Tevas and your Thousand Fell sneakers or your old Hasbro toys. If you don’t have specific brand name items, you can send in boxes full of miscellaneous art supplies or old media cabinet staples like cassettes and DVDs. Simply order a box and ship it to TerraCycle with a prepaid return label, and they handle the rest. Search for eligible recycling partners here.
Bras, Underwear, Socks & Tights | KNickey
As it turns out, 95% of textiles that end up in the trash can actually be recycled. To combat this, Knickey partners with a non-profit to safely recycle intimates and divert them from the landfill. Your old garments can be from any brand: they’re sorted by fiber makeup, broken down and turned into insulation and rug pads. You’ll get a free pair once they receive your box.
Stockings | Swedish Stockings
Collect at least three pairs of synthetic tights or stockings from any brand and send them in to Swedish Stockings for a 10% discount code. They industrially grind tights into materials used for fiberglass tanks which are used to separate grease from water at restaurants and gas stations.
Workout Clothes | Girlfriend
Recycle your Girlfriend Collective-exclusive leggings, bras, shorts and joggers with their recycling program. Their clothing is already made of recycled water bottles, so it’s great to see this closed-loop company continuing the cycle. Once they’ve received your items, get $15 toward a future purchase.
Clothes | For Days
For Days utilizes a closed loop system where you’re able to swap old clothing items you purchased there for new items once they’ve reached the end of their lifecycle. You can also order a Take Back Bag to send in clothing, swimwear and socks that were purchased from other brands. They offer a $10 store credit for the Medium bag and $20 credit for the Large bag.
Clothes | ThredUp
Sell your retired clothing items to ThredUp, and cash out with a partner credit to shop at brands like Christy Dawn, Frame and Amour Vert. You can opt to have ThredUp return your unsold items for a fee, or choose to have them responsibly recycled.
We hope you found a few new closed loop brands to support as well as some solid places to send retired belongings that you’re not quite sure what to do with.