Searching "textile recycling near me" usually returns a frustrating mix of Goodwill drop boxes, government waste pages, and outdated listings. This guide cuts through that — giving you the best actual options organized by how you want to donate and where you live.
The good news: no matter where you are in the US, you have options. Between nationwide retail programs, mail-in services, and state-specific resources, virtually all textiles have a recycling pathway that doesn't involve a landfill.
Nationwide Programs — Available Everywhere
These programs are available across the entire US, meaning no matter where you live, these are your baseline options.
H&M stores across the US accept any clothing, any brand, any condition in their in-store recycling bins. Items are collected and processed by textile recycling partners. You get a discount voucher for your next purchase. This is the easiest option for most people — if there's an H&M near you, you have a textile recycler.
American Eagle has clothing recycling bins at many store locations. Like H&M, they accept any brand and any condition. A second strong option if you're in a mall or shopping center that has an AEO but not an H&M.
TerraCycle's clothing and shoes Zero Waste Box is available to anyone in the US. Purchase the box, fill with up to 20 lbs of clothing and shoes in any condition, and ship it back with the prepaid label. Cost is approximately $100–$140 depending on box size — best for large cleanouts or shared family use.
Accepts any clothing from any brand. Print a prepaid label, fill a bag, drop at UPS. Gets converted to recycled cotton apparel, insulation, or upholstery fill. The $5 store credit toward their sustainable clothing line is a nice bonus.
Denim-only program by Cotton Incorporated. Accepts jeans, denim jackets, shorts — any denim, any condition. Processed into UltraTouch insulation for homes. Drop-off locations at select retailers, or mail directly. This is the single best option for old denim specifically.
Wearable Collections provides textile pickup and recycling services, primarily working with apartment buildings, businesses, and municipalities. They cover most major US metro areas. If you have a large volume of mixed textiles, they can schedule a pickup. Accepted items include clothing, shoes, and linens in any condition.
How to Find Textile Recycling By State
Beyond the national programs, many states have their own textile recycling infrastructure — government-sponsored programs, local nonprofits, and municipal programs that offer free drop-off in your city or town.
The best free tool for finding local textile recyclers is Earth911's Recycling Locator at earth911.com. Search "clothing" or "textiles" and enter your ZIP code. It aggregates local drop-off locations and is updated regularly. This is the most reliable way to find what's specifically available in your area.
Below are highlights for the most populous states, including notable state-specific programs. State guide pages with full local listings are coming to BetterThanThrift.com — starting with Texas.
When There's Nothing Local — Mail-In Is Your Answer
If you live in a rural area or a city without strong local textile recycling infrastructure, mail-in programs are your best option. TerraCycle and Everywhere Apparel both ship anywhere in the continental US, and the process is straightforward: print a label, fill a bag, drop at a shipping location.
The cost of TerraCycle's box is the main barrier for some people — roughly $100–$140. One way to offset this: coordinate with neighbors, friends, or family to fill one box collectively. Split the cost and fill it with everyone's damaged textiles in one go.
What Textile Recycling Actually Does
It's worth understanding what happens after you drop off or mail in your textiles — because the outcomes are genuinely useful.
Clothing in good condition from general textile recyclers often gets sorted and resold through discount channels or international markets — similar to standard thrift donation, but more carefully managed.
Worn clothing gets sorted by fiber type and color. Cotton garments become industrial rags. Wool gets shredded and respun. Synthetic fibers get processed into fill material.
Heavily damaged clothing gets mechanically shredded and processed into raw fiber, which goes into insulation, furniture padding, automotive interiors, or new textile products.
The result: almost nothing ends up in a landfill when textiles reach a proper recycling facility. The challenge is just getting clothes to the right place in the first place — which is exactly what BetterThanThrift.com is built to help with.
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