Textiles have become cheaper which means Americans purchase more textiles now than we have ever done in the past. Textiles include clothing, shoes, blankets, towels and so forth. However, the true cost of textiles is much higher than what we pay in the store. There are environmental and human costs during production of textiles and there is the problem that most textiles end up in landfills.

In the past, those who design and manufacture the clothing we wear would release new fashion to the public twice a year. Now, these same design and manufacturers release new clothing lines to the public at least 6-8 times a year. This is called Fast Fashion. The U.S. generates approximately 25 billion pounds a year of textiles which is about 85 pounds a year per person. We all have clothing that is piling up in our homes and unfortunately, when we try to donate our clothing to thrift stores, they cannot possibly sell it all. This is compounded by the fact that residents are more often going to purchase a new garment rather than purchase a previously worn garment.

Textile disposal is one area that we can use the 3 “R”s. Residents should look at what they can comfortably do as far as reducing what we are all purchasing and that includes clothing. We will never be able to recycle our way out of our waste problem. We will need to reduce what we purchase and then try to reuse as much as possible.

Of all of the clothing that we purchase as a society, 30% of it when it is no longer wanted is only good for the rag box. Of the 70% that is left, area thrift stores are only able to sell approximately 3%. The rest of the clothing is sent to other places overseas or within the U.S. where it is sold or given away.

Eventually, other countries will stop taking all of our waste as they have done with our plastics and other recyclables. We will have to start thinking more about what each of us can do to reduce our waste by becoming choosy on what we buy. We simply just have too much stuff.

So what can we do about it? Purchase only what you need and try to purchase items from thrift stores as much as you can. Reducing and reusing can help our textile situation from becoming a much more serious problem.

If you are moving and/or cleaning out closets, plan to take things to thrift stores or recycling centers over several weeks instead of trying to rid your home of these unwanted items all at once. This allows these centers to be able to effectively handle everything that is coming into them from the public. Talk to the staff at area thrift stores to find out what best practices they may have for clothing that is past its prime. You may be able to donate these items in another way. Purchase quality items as much as you can to make them last longer.

Try to reuse items in your own home if at all possible. T-shirts make good rags for washing the car or for scrubbing the floor. If you know of someone who has a garage or shop, ask them if they need any of these materials for cleaning up.

While some technology is in development that could potentially help us with our textile waste problem, it is going to take some time before it is ready. There are some unique solutions such as returning the used, unwanted clothing to a textile factory where it is reversed through the system, which takes apart that pair of jeans or that worn-out sweater for the thread that makes up the garment. This is called material to material recycling. Other companies are working to take back their shoes or garments that they make so that they can use the fabric again. Jeans such as Levi’s can be returned to certain retailers which from there they make new jeans. Shoes such as the popular Van’s brand will also take their shoes back from the public and they are often made into other things such as playground equipment. And believe it or not, there is ongoing research where scientists are making clothing out of milk by-products and algae too.

For more information, please call (507) 532-8210, Lyon County Environmental Department.