The global textile industry is worth an estimated $2.560 trillion and the U.S. is the world’s second-largest e-commerce market. Unfortunately, 85% of textiles end up in landfills and a 2018 study found that clothing is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world.
To reverse this trend, EGLE launched Know It Before You Throw It in June 2019, a campaign to improve the quality and quantity of recycling in Michigan. Many Americans are unaware of their local recycling laws, and 46% of Google searchers are looking for local information. EGLE wants to raise awareness about best recycling practices and double the state’s recycling rate to 30% by 2025.
Textiles aren’t typically accepted by curbside recycling services, but they’re a welcome revenue stream for Michigan charities that collect donations at drop-off facilities. Textile-recycling organizations will happily take clothing with holes, tears, and stains. “The trickiest part is educating people that we really don’t care about the condition of their clothing that they want to give us, as long as it’s clean and dry,” said Nick Carlson. Carlson is the vice president of donated goods operations at Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids. He’s also the director of the Michigan Recycling Coalition. “We ask them not to edit their donations,” said Carlson. “Trust us to get everything into the proper market.”
Reusing clothing offers many economic and environmental benefits. While professional storage units provide a personal, private space to secure belongings, the average American discards 70 pounds of textiles per year.