The typical American household discards an estimated 68 pounds of clothing each year. In fact, fabrics like cotton, polyester, nylon and rayon make up an estimated 5% of all trash found in landfills. Are you considering donating your clothes? Below are some reasons why you should choose to do so.
Help Yourself – What’s better than an organized closet? Several organizations that pick up donations would be willing to accept gently used clothing. Much of this clothing goes to help people in need, including the homeless, as well as support for military families and veterans. In the United States, the unemployment rate among veterans stood at 9.9% during 2012. By donating your clothing, you are helping to keep the doors open of organizations that pick up donations, and in turn, helping your community.
You can also claim clothing donations to organizations that pick up donations the same way you would claim a monetary charitable donation. Make space in your closet, help those in need, and get a tax break? It doesn’t get much better than that.
Help Your Environment – By donating your clothing, these textiles are being put to use by people who need them, rather than sitting in a landfill. Textiles already comprise four percent of the nation’s solid waste stream, and the absolute amount is growing. Landfill space is expensive and hard to find.
If you are unsure whether to donate your clothing to organizations that pick up donations, what do you have to lose? Not only are you organizing your closet and ridding yourself of the clutter, but you are enhancing the lives of less fortunate members of your community, and helping the environment.