Did you know that 85% of our collective clothing ends up in a landfill? We’ve gathered some information to help reduce clothing waste, make clothes last longer, and ultimately, save money.
Whether you’re looking to simplify and declutter your closet, save money, or are hoping to reduce your overall waste, below are some tips to help you reach your goals.
10 ways to reduce your clothing waste and save money
Reduce
- Stay classic. Avoid fast fashion trends and stick to classic items that don’t go out of style.
- Quality over quantity. Instead of buying 3 pairs of low-quality pants, consider choosing one higher quality pair that will last longer.
- Care. Make your clothes last longer by washing them in lower temperatures and hang drying them (this also cuts back on your electricity use – and lowers your bill).
- Repair. Consider repairing clothes that need some TLC instead of replacing them.
Reuse
- Re-purpose. Could your old jeans use a facelift? Consider having them tailored into a more modern cut or into a pair of jean shorts. Tee shirt getting a little faded? Maybe it can be turned into a cozy new pajama top.
- Swap. Trade clothes with your friends – it’s a great way to find a new home for your clothes and refresh your own wardrobe without spending any money or sending anything to the landfill.
- Thrift. Consider browsing good quality secondhand items from thrift stores or sites like Facebook marketplace.
Sell, donate or recycle
- Sell. Why not make a couple bucks on nice clothes you no longer want? Resell your high-quality items to consignment shops or on apps/websites that offer that service
- Donate. Donating your clothing to local non-profits is a great way to give back to the community while also clearing out space in your closet.
- Recycle. Have clothing that can’t be donated or sold? That’s okay. You can recycle old clothing and textiles!
- Pro tip: you can find local places that accept textiles for recycling by using the Recycling Council of BC’s (RCBC) Recyclepedia or by calling their Recycling Hotline at 1-800-667-4321
- Some clothing stores also accept old clothes for recycling (do a quick Google search to find out which ones)
Where to go for more information
Explore our website for more info on which topics we can help you with directly, including online purchases.
Feel free to ask us your questions in the comment section or explore some of our other blog posts below.
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About Consumer Protection BC
We are not-for-profit regulator responsible for overseeing certain industries and specific consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we can’t help you directly, we will try to offer a referral to a relevant organization, if one exists. Other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.
Please note information on our website is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. For details, read our website disclaimer.
There are many more ways to repurpose or upcycle used clothing. It can be cut into strips or squares for quilting. There is also a way to cut old t-shirts into one continuous strip that can then be knitted or crocheted in the place of yarn. It can also be used to make rag rugs. SO many different ways to reuse! 😊
Hey Barbara! Great tips. Thanks so much for sharing!
One way to reduce is to choose a small spectrum of colors and gradually minimalise, keeping to good quality. It keeps you from spontaneous fashion buying, which is rarely best quality, and allows you to donate or give away seldom-if-ever worn items. No one seems to have noticed it’s my third year doing this.
Hi Margaret, thanks so much for your tip! I like the idea of simplifying wardrobes down to a smaller spectrum of colours. My personal favourite will always be black! 🙂 Thanks again for your suggestion.
I wonder if you guys can provide a QR code so we can provide it to people who has no idea about the cloth recycling.
thank you for the information you guys are providing.
thank you.
you can give your old clothes to the poor, your siblings,friends and family