Recently, there has been a new fashion trend going around: thrifting. Of course, thrifting is not exactly “new,” but it has grown in popularity a lot in recent years, especially for teenagers. I have found about half of my clothes from stores such as Crossroads or Goodwill, and saved a lot of money doing so. Trends on social media often poke fun at the unusual finds they have seen while thrifting, which just promotes the act even more. Not only is thrifting a fun activity to do with friends, but you also get the benefits of saving money and helping reduce the use of landfills. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an organization that aims to enhance economic security and quality of life, “only about 15% of used clothes and other textiles in the United States get reused or recycled. The other 85% head straight to the landfill or incinerator” (NIST). The greater majority of people living in the U.S. prefer to throw away their clothes than try to repurpose them. Unsurprisingly, the mass amounts of waste produced by throwing out used clothing affects the environment very poorly as the incineration process pollutes our air. However, donating old clothes helps society in more ways than one. Firstly, it lessens the extent of the effects landfills and incineration have on the Earth. Second, it can allow a cheaper alternative to buying new clothing from large department stores for lower income families, and lastly, it is a good way to declutter your closet. I’m sure everyone is guilty of keeping some shirts, pants, shorts, and even jackets they know they will never want to wear. Thankfully, thrifting allows for many different styles of clothing to be expressed for people of all ages, so you can donate most items. Additionally, many thrift stores also allow people to donate furniture, books, toys, glassware, and a lot of other items as well. Overall, the donation of unwanted items, not limited to clothing alone, can help make our world a better place. Whether the purpose is to tidy your house, help people in need, or to reduce waste, lots of organizations accept donations and would be happy to accept your unwanted items.
