Breathe new life into your old stuff...
Why Reuse?
In the age of consumer-driven fast fashion, it can be difficult to know what to do with unwanted items leading many to simply throw them away- creating an even bigger issue! Every year, around 1.75 million tonnes of textile waste is produced here in the UK, with a staggering 1.25 million tonnes ending up in landfill. It is estimated that the average article of clothing is worn just 10 times before being discarded which is even more worrying when you consider that an item of clothing as simple as a t-shirt can take over 2700 litres of water to create. I recently purchased my first item of clothing on Depop and not only did it save me money but it made me feel like I’d done my bit today to save the planet; so with that in mind, I have come up with 10 ways you all can feel like Planet Warriors too so you don’t have to.
Pearls of Recycling Wisdom:
1. Charity Donations: I have been donating my old clothes to my local charity shop for years and they are always really grateful to receive items. It is a system you can give clothes into and buy other preloved items at reduced prices- top tip: go charity shopping with your friends! You can buy items or have fun browsing the racks.
2. Buy and sell unwanted clothing online: Most people know of websites like Depop, Vinted, or eBay for selling their unwanted clothes and they really do work, it enables you to reach a larger audience and have more choices if you do not have the time or energy to trawl through your local charity shop.
3. Host a clothing swap: My friends and I do this all the time! We fill a bag or two with some old or unwanted clothes and lay them out on a table, after going round the items seeing what we would like, we swap something of our own for the item you’d like. It’s always fun when two people want the same thing and have to pitch what they would give the original owner in return!
4. Give clothes to friends and family: Now I know your siblings are sometimes not your favourite people, but they can be great places to offload old items of clothing to!
5. Repurpose/upcycling: There’s nothing I love more than finding a cute old jam jar and painting it blue to match my room so I can put my scrunchies or other bits and bobs in it!
6. Use online platforms for free exchanging: There are several ‘Freecycle’ or ‘Buy Nothing’ groups on Facebook where people give away unwanted items for free!
7. Compost: Create a compost heap in your garden or use my Grandma’s favourite trick of putting old eggshells in plant pots to fertilise the soil.
8. Donate to local schools and libraries: Donating old Children’s books to my old primary school and the local library has been both a space saver and an absolute joy to know younger children are getting the same amount of joy the books brought me as a child.
9. Trade-in unwanted games and consoles: Retailers like CeX or Game often offer a trade-in service depending on the condition of your console or games where they buy old models off you for money or store credit that you can put towards your next console!
10. Recycle responsibly: Lastly, if you really have to throw something away make sure you check what can be recycled in your area by going on your Local Authority’s website or checking the back of the packaging.