If you are interested in green issues, the chances are you already do a lot to live a more environmentally friendly life. You probably do not leave things on standby, consider fuel consumption and emissions when buying a car and, of course, recycle.
For most people in the UK, and much of the rest of the world, re-cycling has become second nature. However, there are still things that few of us actually recycle; clothes are a good example of this.
Why More People do not Automatically Recycle Their Old Clothes
The main reason people do not do so is that they do not know that they can. We have all had the experience in the past of trying to give our old clothes away or sell them for a few pence each at a boot sale, only to discover that nobody really wants them. A few years ago, even my local charity shop started turning certain clothes away, because they simply did not have the space for them and knew that some items would not sell.
The Growing Market for Old Clothes
Today, things have changed. There is now a huge and growing market for second hand clothes. Most charities will now take whatever you offer them, almost regardless of the quality.
The reason for the change is that the second hand clothes market is more diverse than it once was. Today, it is much easier to recycle clothes for cash because there is so much demand for old cloth and fabric.
Used clothes can be sold locally, but they can also be shipped abroad where there is demand for old clothes that are in reasonable condition and still wearable.
There is even a market for clothes that are too worn or ugly to be worn again. Most fabrics, even synthetic ones can be broken down into their component parts and used to produce new thread and other products. Advances in technology and the rising cost of raw materials like cotton mean that it is now cost effective to recycle clothes on a large scale. It has always been done, but on a much smaller scale and was an industry that had nearly died out only a decade ago.
The Role of the Environmental Protection Movement
It almost goes without saying that the more we recycle the better it is for the planet. Less raw materials have to be extracted or grown, which substantially reduces energy consumption as well as leading to less pollution.
However, there are also social benefits to passing your clothes on or recycling them. Doing so keeps the price of fabric lower in general, so the cost of new clothes for everyone in the world remains relatively low. In addition, a steady supply of second hand clothes means that it is now possible for even the poorest in society to buy adequate clothing.
Next time you go to throw away your summer T-shirts stop and see if you can recycle them. Doing so will be good for the environment and could even be good for you too, especially if you sell them on rather than giving them away.
