Every year millions of pounds of consumer textile waste floods landfills across the globe, not to mention the massive amounts of textiles discarded directly by manufacturers. Here are some effective options with textile recycling:

DONATION
Donations can be made to:
• Goodwill, Salvation Army and resale clothing stores at a walk-in basis     
www.goodwill.org
www.salvationarmy.org

• Local shelters and disaster relief efforts     
www.pickupplease.org
www.soles4souls.org

TEXTILE RECYCLING
Companies that accept fabrics for recycle have the ability to create marvelous things with materials that would otherwise be thrown away.

Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART) is a leading international non-profit organization that thrives on clothing donation to be used for so many wonderful causes.

After assessing the items received and piling them into different categories, they take the unusable garments and strip them to the rawest form.  In this state they may be respun or employed in different, less structured ways. Clothing as well as plastics have been used to create automotive interiors (using fibers as filling for car seats), furniture (fillings for couch cushions) and mattresses. The fibers can also be respun into yarns and used in a variety of different mediums. On their website, they offer alternative uses for all sorts of materials, and also suggest ways to cut back on your carbon footprint.

Check out their website for more in depth examples and suggestions:
www.smartasn.org/news/index/cfm

These options, being incredibly interesting and sustainable, unfortunately are less known than the typical "drop-off-at-your-local-thrift-store" mentality of recycling garments. Many consumers harbor the thoughts of "Well, I don't want to wear this t-shirt (or these shoes) anymore, and it is really dirty and worn so why would anyone else want it? I will just throw it away." By educating the consumer about the various recycling opportunities offered, we will be sure to lessen our impact on the earth, and reuse fibers in a sustainable, practical way for everyone to enjoy.  

Resources:
www.grownyc.org
www.smartasn.org

One of the most unfortunate things about dry cleaning clothing, besides that distinctive "just-dry-cleaned" smell, is the use of harmful chemicals they use to launder your garments. Some think, "Well, my clothing is made from organic materials, isn't that enough?" While that is the first step to creating an organic and eco-friendly lifestyle, there are so many other ways to incorporate sustainability, and so easy too!

Here are some facts and tips about dry cleaning, and some solutions to creating a totally eco-friendly wardrobe - from the closet to the cleaners.

Conventional dry cleaning is convenient and affordable, but what actually happens to your clothes? The cleaners most commonly use the toxic chemical Perchloroethylene (also known as PERC) which, if exposed to a lot, can cause serious respiratory damage and loss of coordination in some cases. This chemical is very harmful to the Ozone, not to mention very damaging to the fibers of your garments over time. 

There are many dry cleaners that offer an alternative to this detrimental chemical cleaning across the country, and at surprisingly affordable prices as well. They utilize a non-toxic material called GreenEarth®. This material is comprised of siloxane, which is essentially liquefied sand; completely biodegratable and gentle on your clothing. It will leave your clothing looking vibrant and just as new with no chemical damage to the fabrics.  And the best part.. it's odor-free!

Many cleaners offer free pick-up and delivery services that make it even more accessible. GreenEarth® and other organic cleaning alternatives are used at many other dry cleaning facilities across the country. GreenEarth® is an approved material of Green Cleaners Council, who have a handy "Find a Cleaner" option on their website. (http://www.greencleanerscouncil.com/find.html) Check it out and find an Eco-cleaner near you.

If you prefer to not take your garments to a facility, there are also many other ways to launder your clothing naturally and sustainably. 

Ecobites.com offers a lot of very interesting and effective natural home dry cleaning remedies that have withstood the test of time, and still work! Some of these techniques include utilizing salts, bran and vinegar to deodorize clothing, though these procedures may prove to be quite messy. Check out www.ecobites.com/diy-recycling-projects/1133-diy-dry-cleaning for more information on the various natural options, dry cleaning recipes and procedures for all types of fibers and materials.

Whether it be through Eco dry cleaning services, or simply using some of the above natural home remedies, it really is easy to incorporate sustainability into your laundering routines. In addition, there are many varieties of biodegratable and natural detergents and soaps available to use in regular machine washing as well.