Last week we learned nearly 100% of all used clothing and household textiles can be re-used or recycled:

• 45% are re-used as apparel.

• 30% are converted into industrial polishing/wiping cloths.

• 20% are processed into fiber to be manufactured into new products.

• 95% of all used clothing is recyclable, only 5% is unusable due to mildew or other contamination.

Let’s review some options to extend the life of your clothes when you are done with them:

• If it is still usable and doesn’t need to be repaired, consider trading it to friends and family, selling it, or donating it to charity.

• If it needs a patch or a zipper, consider repairing and re-using it.

• If it can’t be repaired or used, DIY or upcycle into something new that you will use.

Your challenge today is to figure out: how do we share this new awareness with our families and other students to give the clothes in our community a second life?

To do this, you will need to complete several steps:

• Identify local options to re-use or recycle used clothing:

  • Google “recycling clothing in (insert your location)” and “donating clothing in (insert your location).”

  • log into search.earth911.com, enter clothing or textiles in the Search For box and your zip code in the Zip Code box. If there are no results, try entering other local zip codes.

  • In the Portland metropolitan area, log in to oregonmetro.gov/tools-living/garbage-and-recycling/find-a-recycler and complete the form.

• Review the identified local solutions to get more details:

  • What types of clothing are accepted?

  • Where are they located?

  • When are they open (days/times)?

Now that we know what our local options are, we need to choose how we share the news to our friends and family. You can create an IG post for your clubs IG page or design posters with local recycling and re-use information for display in your club or school. You may have an even better idea.

Please take the next 20 minutes to bring your idea to life.