Is there a better way to get rid of old clothes?

FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Need to get rid of old clothes? You’re not alone: With fast fashion, it’s easier than ever to buy into trends. But cheap clothes aren’t made to last and that excess often ends up in a long chain of carbon- and labor-intensive reselling and recycling, if not directly into a landfill.

Per person, U.S. residents generate an average of 82 pounds of textile waste every year, with 85 percent of it going to landfills or incinerators even though 95 percent can be reused.

Donating is a popular alternative—but know that only about 10 to 20 percent of donated clothing gets sold at thrift shops. The rest goes through a series of sales, from resellers to textile recyclers both in the U.S. and in countries abroad.