How to recycle clothes that can't be donated

We're taught to donate clothes we don't want, but nobody tells us what to do with the stuff that's genuinely worn out. Donation bins don't want it, and tossing it feels wrong. Good news: unwearable textiles are highly recyclable — here's how to handle them.

First, what actually can't be donated?

Reuse charities generally can't resell items that are stained, torn, heavily worn, missing pieces, or single (like one shoe or sock). That doesn't make them garbage — it makes them feedstock for textile recycling, where fabric becomes insulation, padding, and industrial wiping cloths.

The one rule: keep them dry and clean

The fastest way to ruin recyclable textiles is moisture and contamination. Bag them, tie the bag, and keep oil, food, and pet messes out. A dry, closed bag of worn-out clothes is recyclable; a wet, moldy one usually isn't.

Your options for recycling textiles

• A pickup that sends the unwearable share on for recycling. The simplest path: bag everything together and let the service sort wearable from recyclable. That's exactly how our pickup works — you don't separate anything.
• Dedicated textile drop-offs. Some retailers and programs accept worn textiles for recycling; availability varies locally and seasonally.
• Repurpose at home. The best old t-shirts and towels make excellent cleaning rags — cut them up before they ever leave the house.

Don't pre-sort yourself into the trash

The biggest mistake is deciding an item is "too gross to donate" and throwing it away. If you send everything along to a service that sorts and recycles, those textiles get captured. Learn more about what happens after pickup.

Recycle your worn-out clothes free →