Did you know that September 15 is recognized as World Clean Up Day? While this global day of action is largely focused on ridding our planet of trash by cleaning up litter and mismanaged waste from our beaches, rivers, forests and streets, SMART also encourages you and your family to be mindful of your household textiles – any goods made of interlacing fibers.
From t-shirts and cloth belts, to curtains and tablecloths, 95% of the world’s textiles can be recycled (so long as they are clean, dry and odor-free), but 85% end up in landfills where they negatively impact our environment. On World Clean Up Day, we invite you to take action and play your part in reducing the world’s textile waste by going through your home and identifying your unwanted, unused or out-of-date textile goods. You can either bag them up for donation to your local thrift store (Goodwill, Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul, etc.) or a convenient clothing collection bin where they can be resold and re-worn, or you can also scour the internet for fun, creative ways to repurpose them around the house!
For instance, those old t-shirts you’ve been holding onto since high school that are faded and too small? Turn them into a toy for your dog to enjoy. Stained neckties that you’ll never wear again? Upcycle them into fabulous Fall décor. The options are limitless, and each project you and your family complete helps to reduce our global carbon footprint!
Not sure what items you have laying around the house that might be considered a textile? Check out this list. Want more information or other ideas on what you can do with your items? Visit us on Facebook and Twitter. You may also learn more about World Clean Up Day here!
