The Best Programs to Recycle & Donate Clothes

H&M

This Swedish retailer is well-known for its discount prices and stylish fashions, but it has also become recognized for its leading role in sustainability practices among the retail industry. Not only does H&M sell garments that are made with eco-conscious sustainable materials and recycled textiles, but it also allows shoppers to donate clothing for recycling. All you have to do is bag up your items and bring them to any location worldwide. H&M will accept any textiles, from mismatched socks to old sheets. For each bag of textiles you drop off, you'll earn a discount card for 15% off your next in-store purchase.

Gap

Gap, Inc. has partnered with resale company thredUP to make it easy for customers to donate and recycle clothing. At select Gap brand stores, including Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta and Janie and Jack you can pick up a free thredUP kit, which includes a Clean Out bag or a mailing label. Pack up your unwanted items, and send them in. If any items are accepted for resale, you can receive cash or store credit. If you opt to receive store credit and use it at any Gap Inc. brands you’ll receive an additional 15% off your purchase. Any items that aren’t accepted for resale can either be sent back to you for a fee or recycled.

Patagonia

Considering Patagonia’s mission statement is “in business to save our home planet,” it should come as no big surprise that the company offers a recycling program for all of its products. You can either drop off your used Patagonia products in-store at your nearest location or you can mail them to the address below:

Patagonia Service Center
8550 White Fir Street
Reno, NV 89523-8939

The North Face

With the Clothes the Loop program, The North Face invites customers to bring in unwanted clothing or shoes of any brand to help keep those items out of landfills. All items are then sent to the company’s nonprofit partner Soles4Souls whose mission is to create sustainable jobs. The organization repurposes and redistributes donated items. When you make an in-store donation you’ll earn a $10 rebate on your next purchase of $100 or more at The North Face. Check here to find the nearest The North Face location.

Blue Jeans Go Green

Denim is made from cotton which can be recycled and repurposed, which is good news for all those too-small pairs of jeans in your drawers. The American Cotton Producers and Importers are behind the Blue Jeans Go Green program, which allows you to donate your old jeans. Donated jeans are repurposed into housing insulation to be used in buildings constructed by Habitats for Humanity. While you can drop your jeans off at specific retailers for recycling, thanks to Zappos for Good, you can also mail them in for free. Just box up your jeans, print a free mailing label here, and they’ll take care of the rest.

Levi’s

The godfather of jeans also offers an easy way to recycle those dungarees, along with everything else in the closet. Levi’s will accept all clothing and shoe donations at any of its retail locations throughout the United States. All items donated will be repurposed or recycled through Levi’s partnership with I:CO. You’ll also score a voucher with your donation for 20% off a single, regular-priced item purchased in-store at Levi’s.

Pact

This sustainable fashion company is all about offering eco-friendly, organic alternatives for the whole family. It also wants to ensure that its products are long lasting and don’t end up in a landfill, which is why Pact has partnered with Give Back Box to help you easily donate any unwanted items instead of discarding them. Reuse the Pact box your items came in, and pack it up with any clothing, shoes or accessories you no longer want. You can print a prepaid label here and mail the box in for donation.

Give Back Box

You can also go straight to the source and reuse any retailer box you have at home to make a donation through Give Back Box directly. Simply pack up the box with clothing or household items, print the free label and send it off. When you make your donation through the Give Back Box site, you also have the option to choose a specific charity to receive your donation. You will pay a $15 fee to print the mailing label, rather than printing one for free.

Salvation Army

You’re likely already familiar with this organization to drop off donations, but did you know they also provide pick-ups, so you can add one less thing to your to-do list? Simply bag up your items and visit the Salvation Army online to schedule a pick up time.