Ready to ditch your old wardrobe? Here’s the real plan before you toss it
So you’ve had enough of that one itchy hoodie, or the blazer that’s seen better days. Before you think about hurling it straight into that recycling bin in your closet, keep a few key points in mind.
1. Give it a second life with donation
- Check the condition: Clothes that are still wearable and clean are prime time for charities.
- Find the right fit: Look for local shelters or brands that specifically want your type of garment.
- Less is more: Pick up, wash, and stack them curbside—no fancy sorting needed.
2. When the fabric is beyond repair, recycle smartly
- Separate fibers: Major brands often collect polyester and cotton separately. Never mix plastics with natural fibers.
- Check local facilities: Some township programs now accept fiber-only pickup.
- Know the timeline: Recycled fibers might take a while to surface into new products—stand patience by the front yard until they’re conjured.
3. Toss it? Only if it’s truly unusable
If it’s beyond help—think tear, chemical damage, or a moth‑infested jacket—don’t lean on the bin. Instead the County e‑system often has a scheduled pick‑up for non‑recoverable cloth.
Bottom line
Recycle? Donate? Both can save your clothes, the planet, and your wallet. So, next time you’re thinking of doing the “throw-it-in-these-bins” dance, pause. Your wardrobe’s future (and a few high‑schoolers’ Christmas parties) will thank you.
Recycling bins need to be reserved for recyclable materials in their simplest forms – namely plastic, metal and paper.
To recycle textile, drop off your clothes at any H&M store. Find out more about its Garment Collection Program here.
Or use a service like Greensquare. You can find out more information on what types of clothes they accept, learn more about their work and even schedule a pick-up.
REMEMBER TO ASSESS YOUR CLOTHING
Some older items may not necessarily be beyond salvaging. In fact, before you decide that it should be tossed, look online for simple DIY ideas.
This is especially helpful when you have clothing that cannot be recycled.
DONATE YOUR CLOTHES
Donating your once-loved clothes to social enterprise thrift shops such as Minds shop, Metta Welfare Association and The Salvation Army?
Always check if these are pieces that are still wearable. This means checking for any holes, tears, major defects or stains. Ask yourself if you’re discarding of this piece of clothing because you’ve grown tired of it or if it’s actually damaged.
If it’s the latter, there’s a high chance that even when donated, most thrift shops would remove it from their racks because they wouldn’t be able to sell it.
DIY SOMETHING OUT OF IT
Thanks to the many DIY tutorials out there, you can easily find a new way to breathe new life into your old clothes.
Make bathmats out of old T-shirts, turn jeans into cool stationary cases for your kids and create cool artwork out of old fabric scraps. All it takes is a little imagination!
HOST A CLOTHING SWAP
Clothing swaps are sweeping across the world, and it’s also gaining steam in Singapore.
If you can’t find a clothing swap to go to, host your own. All you need is a room, a couple of clothing racks or cardboard boxes, and a bunch of friends who have clothes to swap with.
The idea is that people can come to your swap, bringing with them their own clothes, and they can barter to trade their clothing and accessories with you.
You’re free to set your own rules – these can range from the minimum condition of the swap items to the types of swappable items – but essentially it’s a great way to gather up your friends, make new connections and do all that while saving your clothes from being tossed.
This article was first published in The Singapore Women’s Weekly.
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