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Disposal Guide:
Clothing & Textiles

Textiles are one of the fastest-growing waste streams. Synthetic fibers (polyester, nylon) take hundreds of years to decompose and shed microplastics.

1,095 verified facilities available nationwide

Federal Law & Regulations

Understand your legal obligations under EPA guidelines.

The EPA tracks textile waste generation but has no federal mandates for textile recycling. In recent years, as fast fashion has accelerated landfill accumulation, some states are pushing for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bills for textiles, but none have passed federally. Currently, textile disposal is virtually unregulated, though the FTC heavily regulates how textiles are labeled (fiber content, origin) under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act.

National Take-Back Programs

Industry-sponsored recycling and stewardship initiatives.

Many national apparel brands have implemented take-back programs. H&M and Zara offer recycling bins in their retail stores for any brand of clothing in any condition, often giving a discount voucher in return. Madewell offers a denim recycling program. Retold Recycling provides a mail-in bag service for a fee, accepting even torn or stained textiles which are then shredded for insulation or rags. Otherwise, charities like Goodwill or dedicated textile drop-boxes (like Planet Aid) are omnipresent nationwide.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Generally Accepted Items

A baseline of materials typically accepted by specialized facilities.

Shirts, pants, and dresses
Coats and jackets
Shoes and boots
Towels and bedding
Curtains and drapes
Belts, hats, and accessories
LOCAL DIRECTORIES

Find Facilities Near You

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1. AK

4.8
(512)

State Directory

Verified by EPA

Browse our comprehensive directory of verified clothing & textiles recycling centers, household hazardous waste events, and local drop-off locations across AK.

2. AL

4.8
(448)

State Directory

Verified by EPA

Browse our comprehensive directory of verified clothing & textiles recycling centers, household hazardous waste events, and local drop-off locations across AL.

3. AR

4.8
(305)

State Directory

Verified by EPA

Browse our comprehensive directory of verified clothing & textiles recycling centers, household hazardous waste events, and local drop-off locations across AR.

4. AS

4.8
(224)

State Directory

Verified by EPA

Browse our comprehensive directory of verified clothing & textiles recycling centers, household hazardous waste events, and local drop-off locations across AS.

5. AZ

4.8
(356)

State Directory

Verified by EPA

Browse our comprehensive directory of verified clothing & textiles recycling centers, household hazardous waste events, and local drop-off locations across AZ.

6. CA

4.8
(367)

State Directory

Verified by EPA

Browse our comprehensive directory of verified clothing & textiles recycling centers, household hazardous waste events, and local drop-off locations across CA.