While numerous clothing recyclers are available today, many people don’t realize they can recycle their worn textiles for money. Reselling gently used clothing isn’t your only option. Today, several companies offer cash back to recycle your unwearable textiles. Read on for the best places to recycle your clothes for store credit or money, and why.
Why should you recycle clothes?
Clothing waste is a huge environmental issue. While clothing is not supposed to be thrown in the trash, 92 million tons of textiles end up in landfills annually. It can take years (200+ years even!) for textiles to decompose. Clothing is typically made from synthetic fibers and dyes, releasing environmental toxins, microplastics, greenhouse gas emissions, and polluting waterways while decomposing.
To prevent this, used clothing should always be recycled. Not all recycling programs are created equally, however. Many companies or donation centers ship used textiles to developing countries where they aren’t properly recycled. It’s important to choose recycling partners that offer clear data on how they recycle their clothes.
Where is the best place to recycle clothes?
You can visit your local donation center, clothing reseller, or charity to recycle your clothes for free. But many of these programs, particularly charities, are overrun with low-quality donations. They may not have the resources to properly recycle your clothes.
While clothing resellers will buy and sell your gently used clothing, they base their selections on quality and demand. If your clothes are too worn or out of fashion, you won’t be able to resell them. Some resellers will recycle your unwearable items for you, but not all.
If you want to recycle your worn clothing, consider a clothing recycler. Some of the best clothing recycling programs include Retold Recycling, TerraCycle, or local city-wide recycling initiatives. While these options are impactful, they often cost you money or are only available in certain cities.
If you’re hoping to get money for your used clothes, you’re in luck. Many clothing brands now offer take-back programs to implement a more circular business model or to boost sales. They will recycle certain unwearable textiles for you in exchange for store credit or cash.
Where to recycle clothes for money & discounts:
Read on if you’re wondering where to recycle clothes for store credit or cash. Below, you’ll find the top companies that recycle clothes (even worn underwear!) for money.
Most of these brands upcycle your old textiles into new clothes or industrial textiles, keeping them out of landfills. We include what each company recycles, and what they offer, so it’s easy to choose the best clothing recycler for you.
1. Trashie
Recycles: Clothing, Tech, Hair Tools
For: TrashieCash – redeem rewards and discounts at over 15,000 brands
Trashie makes it easy to give your old clothes a new life, and get rewards while you’re at it. Instead of throwing away the clothes you don’t wear, order a “Take Back Bag,” fill it with clothes, shoes, or other textiles, and send it back. They’ll sort and recycle everything responsibly. After they get your bag, you earn points you can use for discounts, gift cards, and other cool rewards.
2. Girlfriend Collective
Recycles: Clothing
For: 30% off next order
Girlfriend Collective is an ethical and size inclusive activewear brand that offers a great way to recycle your clothes for brand discounts. They accept as much used clothing (from any brand) that you can fit into their take-back bag. You’ll then receive $10 per item in store credit, and they’ll recycle your clothes, keeping them out of landfills.
3. ThredUp
Recycles: Clothing
For: 50% off fees (plus cash from whatever you can sell on their platform!)
If you have both clothes you want to resell and clothes you need to recycle, consider ThredUp. Order their Clean Out Kit and fill it with up to 30 pounds of clothing. They will then sort through your items and list all eligible clothes for resale. Once those sell, you’ll be paid a percentage of the sale in cash. ThredUp also recycles any items that aren’t eligible for reselling.
4. Madewell
Recycles: Jeans
For: $20 Credit per Piece
If you’re a Madewell fan with old denim lying around, consider their recycling program. You can order a Clean Out Kit or use their pre-paid shipping label. Fill it with used jeans from any brand and ship it back. Madewell will either resell or recycle your denim. You’ll receive a $20 Madewell coupon per pair of donated jeans. If your denim qualifies for resale, you’ll receive additional store credit. While Madewell only pays you for your denim, you can include any used textiles and they will recycle them for you.
5. Blue Jeans Go Green
Recycles: Denim
For: Store Credit for a participating brand
Blue Jeans Go Green partners with nine retailers including Rag & Bone, Madewell, Anthropologie, Muji, Carhartt, and American Eagle. Choose your preferred retailer, drop off your old denim at their storefront, and receive their store credit offer. Blue Jeans Go Green will turn your old denim into useable materials, like industrial insulation. Most of the retailers they partner with are fast fashion retailers. If you’d prefer to recycle your denim for free, but with no store credit, you can do this directly with Blue Jeans Go Green.
6. Marine Layer
Recycles: All Textiles
For: $40 credit
It’s simple and beneficial to recycle your clothes with Marine Layer. Order a Re-Spun Take Back Bag with a prepaid label for $20. Fill it with any used clothing and send it back. You’ll receive $40 in credit per bag (you can order up to 6 bags annually). Marine Layer upcycles your old textiles into new clothes, or their recycling partners turn them into useable industrial materials.
7. Eileen Fisher
Recycles: Used Eileen Fisher
For: $5 Credit per Piece
Eileen Fisher’s RENEW program is a great way to recycle clothes for store credit – as long as you regularly shop with them. You can return any old Eileen Fisher piece, in any condition, and receive a $5 store credit per item. To recycle your clothes, visit a store near you, or ship to their recycling center.
8. Reformation
Recycles: Used Reformation
For: $5 per Piece
Reformation now recycles used Reformation for store credit. Simply request their Payout Kit, fill your prepaid bag with your old but clean Reformation items, and ship it back. They will then recycle all textiles through Supercircle, and you’ll receive $10 in store credit per item.
9. Levi’s
Recycles: Denim
For: Store Credit
Levi’s has a program called SecondHand, where you can bring your old Levi’s jeans or jackets to certain stores and get a gift card. They clean and repair the clothes, then sell them again in their secondhand shop, so your denim gets a new life instead of ending up in the trash.
10. H&M
Recycles: All Textiles
For: Store Credit
H&M is undoubtedly a fast fashion brand, but they offer an easy way to recycle just about any used textile. Simply bring your used clothing or accessories to the register of your nearest H&M, and you’ll receive a gift card to use on store credit. They do not currently publicly post the credit amount. Since H&M is not a sustainable company, this isn’t an ideal way to recycle your clothes for money, but it’s an option.
About the Author
Alicia Briggs is a writer & editor specializing in slow travel & sustainable living. She has been a full-time traveler since 2018 and runs her own blog, Learning the Local Way, where she covers responsible travel tips and guides.
