Five ways to get rid of old clothes in Metro Vancouver
Credit to Author: Aleesha Harris| Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2020 19:00:38 +0000
Shopping for new clothes in 2020 without thinking of where your old ones will end up simply isn’t such a fashionable idea.
Before you head to the mall in search of that perfect sweater, or look to purge some pieces from your existing closet, it’s important to consider where those clothes are going to end up. (Hint: their final resting place shouldn’t be in the landfill.)
Here are five ideas for getting rid of your unwanted clothing, home textiles, and more in and around Metro Vancouver. Because sending your discarded fashions to the dump is so last decade.
What’s no longer wearable to you, might still be a perfect piece for a friend or family member. Consider organizing a clothing swap or “shop my closet”-type event as a first step to getting rid of unwanted garments in a way that ensures they’ll be given a longer life. You can also rally friends on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram to share pieces that are up for grabs.
Several retailers, including H&M and ALDO, accept clothing and accessories in various conditions at their stores. The garments are then said to be sent on to third-party sorting facilities where they are marked for resale, recycling or reuse. Some retailers even offer a coupon toward shopping their store for those who return textiles this way.
Whether a too-small pair of jeans or those Nikes that no longer look “fresh” enough for your spotless style, clothing and accessories that have life left in them can be donated to thrift stores such as Salvation Army, Penny Pincher, or Value Village.
If you’re a full-on fashionista who keeps up on the latest trends, odds are you’ve got some pretty great pieces hanging in your closet. If you love them but no longer want to wear them, consider sending your stylish threads on to a consignment store. Whether it’s designer pieces at Turnabout Luxury Resale, lightly used luxury handbags at Modaselle, or cool key items from the likes of Rachel Comey and Aritzia at Hunter & Hare, there are a variety of consignment stores around the city that can sell your cool clothes and accessories, making you a little money back while also making a savvy second-hand shopper super pleased.
For garments, bedding and household textiles (hello, torn towels) that are no longer fit for use, there are textile recycling facilities such as Trans-Continental Textile Recycling Ltd., and pickup programs through companies like Waste Control Services Inc. Do a little extra research before you drop items off to ensure the pieces actually go somewhere and don’t just end up in the trash. Return-It is also operating a pilot program for textiles at select locations, including more than 30 in the Lower Mainland, which can be discovered at return-it.ca.
To learn more about what can be recycled in your area, visit Recyclebc.ca.
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