Did you know that the average American household discards an estimated 68 pounds of clothing each year? Because of this, it is estimated that 12 million tons of clothing and textile waste are sent to landfills in the United States annually. Fortunately, there is a way that Americans can not only reduce their landfill contributions but also contribute to organizations that help military families and the blind: by donating clothing and other household items to charities.
Recycling and donating are especially important in the United States because of the way discarded items can affect your community, as well as the nation as a whole: currently, the EPA estimates that 75% of sold waste is recyclable, but only about 30% is actually recycled. When it comes to clothing, the numbers are even more dramatic: as much as 99% of what is thrown away can be recycled. This means that fabrics such as cotton, polyester, nylon and rayon go on to make up as much as 5% of all trash found in landfills, which can cause air pollution and a number of other environmental problems. However, research shows that even the smallest changes can have a huge impact: for example, research shows that if every American recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, 25 million trees could be saved every year. Likewise, recycling usable clothes and textiles can prevent a significant amount of waste from causing environmental harm. Moreover, thanks to charities which specialize in clothing donations and other forms of charitable donations, recycling can also raise support for military families and other at-risk groups.
Research shows that 70% of Americans donate to charity in some form every year. However, what if you could maximize the effect of your donations by giving to organizations that help military families by collecting donated clothes and other items? This effort not only seeks to help under-served groups, such as the blind and families of our servicemen and women, but also assists communities as a whole by preventing unnecessary landfill use and environmental damage. If you have unused clothing and other items cluttering your house, don’t throw them out: instead, make a donation to a local charity and see the good your unneeded possessions can do.
