When to Landfill

If I have things that are in good shape, most everything I donate is in good shape, I will send it to the women's shelter where I know things will be put to good use. On questionable items, I drop off at Goodwill and they handle as they please.

I do not do Freecycle, FB, FB groups, etc because I will not allow any sort of pick up at my home.

Put it on facebook. Almost every town has free pages like "100% free items only". Someone will take it and someone else might even volunteer to put a zipper in it for them.

"Free girls winter jacket, needs a new zipper on front. Daughter wore it with a hoodie and it kept her plenty warm".

There are poor people somewhere that would gladly have that coat and wear it even if they had to use giant safety pins down the front.

In my city we have a "Coats for Kids" program. We take our used winter gear to participating drycleaners, and they clean them and do repairs free of charge and give them to kids in need. Maybe there is a similar program where you live?

put it in a collection box. Clothing should never be sent to the landfill. It can be reused in many different ways. someone might not use it as a coat. but may take it apart and make something else with it. at the end of seasons a lot of thrift stores send clothing that has not sold for x amount of time to third world countries to be used in many ways. rag rugs, baskets, quilts etc. and you would be surprised. some things that here are old rags there are prized possessions. So always donate something that still has use in it. Even if it has no use for you.

No to the landfill. Put it in a donation bin for an organization you support, or check for local organizations that do textile recycling events (we had one recently done by the Scouts, and another by the schools). Textile recycling is great because they reuse all kinds of fabrics including things with rips and stains, and things like shoes, belts and purses.

I have a friend who runs a rag business, and he collects unusable stuff from the charities (things they can't give to their clients) and uses them for things like shop rags and mop heads. So I would either donate to the organizations (who will not trash things that are recyclable) or I would look directly for textile recycling. We also have a local company that works with the Girl Scouts, and they collect styrofoam to use in unique ways, like in manufacturing picture frames. It's great because they use up the packing materials that come when you buy an appliance, excess packing peanuts, styrofoam coffee cups, and the trays from supermarket meat purchases.

I'd seek out appropriate organizations - in fact, if you can find a company that does textile recycling or an organization that is sponsoring a drive. You could expand it to let your neighbors know, or propose this for a community group that wants to do service or raise funds.

Don't landfill. Take it to Goodwill, if they decide they can't sell it, then it goes to a salvage broker and through textile recycling. The money they get in return for salvage, funds the many programs that they offer for the disadvantaged. I learned this not too long ago myself and now throw nothing into the trash. I feel much better too, knowing it gets recycled, even old underwear! (just wash first, LOL) :))

what size is it? send it to me, i will fix the zipper, have my dd use it when she fits it and then donate it when shes done with it

Donate it - someone might be able to fix it or if it does get recycled, it's still being used

I donate EVERYTHING that may be usable still by someone who has nothing. Small holes, stains, broken zippers, underwear in good shape, EVERYTHING. I figure the groups I donate to can decide to keep it, fix it, toss it.

Take it to Goodwill or Salvation Army, and get a receipt to write it off your taxes (use It's Deductible to calculate value).
I really don't care what they do with it.
An item with a broken zipper will never make it to resale - they'll ship it off continent.

Charities go through and sort a lot of items.
You'd be surprised what happens to it after that (no matter whether it's Goodwill, Salvation Army or any other charity).

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/lifestyle/20140320_Pop...

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30227025

Google "what happens to donated clothes" and you'll find a lot of information.

I occasionally fill bags up of worn out, stained clothing and towels, mark the bag "textile Recycling" and drop it at Goodwill. They sell the unwearable/unusable fabrics to materials recyclers who make the fibers into cleaning rags.

Salvation Army also does textile recycling. You should check with your local locations to confirm they accept damaged material, as not all locations are able to do it.

I was looking for information close to your stated location. This is in another county, but it has contact information that might be useful.

Clothing and textile recycling is something new to Summit County
http://www.ohio.com/news/local/clothing-and-textile-recyc...

I, too, have had this dilemma - very nice item I no longer need/fits but there is something wrong with it. A zipper, missing button, something. I don't want to donate "junk" but on the other hand, if someone wants to fix the small thing that is wrong, they would have a super nice item.

What I have done in the past (not sure if it matters to the place I bring it or not) is I safety pin a note on the item "needs new zipper" or "missing 3rd button". We donate to Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc and I figure they can decide if they want to keep or toss.

No, I wouldn't pay $20 to have something repaired and then just give it to Goodwill. We really don't even get the tax deduction because we are not Schedule A filers, let alone spend more money to fix an item that we are going to donate. I would rather give Salvation Army the fixable item and donate $20 in cash :)

Good luck!

Ugh. Now that I've read the links B. provided, I'm rethinking the thrift stores!
We're ruining the economy of third world nations by providing all of these clothes!
I try to pass on what I can to several people of similar size to us and donate the rest.
Zippers are expensive to replace! ANY alterations are very expensive.
A few years back I took four pairs of $15 Target wind pants (for my son) to have them hemmed. Four places--$15 per pair and it was going to take 3-4 weeks!
Thank God I know a few people that sew.

Lots of people could replace the zipper. I'd hate to throw it out too. Maybe a church rummage sale?

i get it. it's hard to throw away something that has one defect that prevents it being useful.
but the donation centers don't have the resources to send items out for repair. they're either usable, or they're not, just as they are for you.
pitch it.
khairete
S.

I would donate it. There are many people that could use it with or without a broken zipper. You could also check a local fabric store and see if anyone there wants it, someone there would be able to replace or fix the zipper.

When my son's zipper broke I just took the jacket to an alterations shop, it cost me $20 to have a new zipper put in, well worth it for a nice down coat. I have also done this for old coats I plan to donate. I actually try to donate yearly, I fix up any old coats we have and ask if anyone else (like at hubby's work) has any they want to donate. Many people want to donate but don't have the inclination to take the stuff down to the shelter, but when they know someone else is going they often splurge for new stuff :)

I have a neighbor that sews. I usually buy the parts and she fixes, we then donate.

I donate and let them decide what to landfill.

Take it to a seamstress to have the zipper repaired for $10 and then donate it to someone in need or sell it.

Why don't you have the zipper replaced?

Donate. There surely is a charity-run secondhand store that takes donations somewhere near you. We live near a large secondhand store run by the Disabled American Veterans and they take practically everything. Let the charities make the call on whether or not to sell the item, but I'd bet that even with the broken zipper, if it's otherwise fine, they'll sell it and someone who's a whiz at fixing zippers will be delighted to buy it.

The Salvation Army runs many stores reselling donated items. Goodwill is another charity to look up.

We never trash clothing or household items unless the clothing is visibly stained or visibly worn/torn, or the household items are broken or very visibly damaged or worn. Some charity resale shops take only clothes but there are many that take everything!

Regarding those collection boxes that lurk in parking lots: Some are legitimate charities but some are scams where it appears like a charity but they actually ship the clothing to other countries where it is sold there--to the poor--for profit, not given away for free to the most needy. Check any signs on those boxes carefully and research the "charity" online before you stuff something into the boxes. I prefer to donate to the charities that are local and are reselling stuff (sometimes to me!) but using the money to help those in need.