Clothing Recycling: Where to Recycle Old Clothes

Clothing recycling in the US runs through four channels: retail take-back boxes (H&M takes any brand), brand trade-in programs (Levi’s, Patagonia), thrift stores that pass on unsellable textiles, and city textile drop-off sites. Wearable clothes should go to resale or donation first; recycling is for what nobody can wear.

The numbers explain why it matters. The EPA’s most recent figures, from 2018, estimate that 17 million tons of textiles were generated in the US that year, and only 14.7% were recycled. The rest was mostly landfilled or burned. This guide covers where to recycle clothes, what each program actually accepts, and which details to confirm before you go, as of November 2026. Program terms change often, so check each official page before a trip. For the stores that resell what you donate, see the thrift store chains hub.

Clothing recycling options at a glance

The quick decision rule: if a garment is wearable, sell or donate it, because reuse keeps it in use longest. If it’s stained, torn or stretched out, look for a program that explicitly accepts damaged items. Many charity drop-offs don’t.

Why clothing recycling matters: the EPA figures

The EPA’s textile data page (last updated March 2026) still uses 2018 as its most recent year. No later EPA textile figures have been published. From that year:

• Generation: about 17 million tons of textiles, 5.8% of all municipal solid waste.
• Recycled: 2.5 million tons, a 14.7% recycling rate.
• Burned with energy recovery: 3.2 million tons.
• Landfilled: 11.3 million tons, 7.7% of everything sent to landfill.

Clothing and footwear specifically had a 13% recycling rate, slightly below other textiles such as sheets and pillowcases at 15.8%. The EPA’s FAQ puts clothing and footwear sent to landfill at 9.1 million tons in 2018. One caveat: the EPA doesn’t count reused textiles in its generation estimate, so clothes that are resold or donated and worn again sit outside these numbers entirely.

The trade group SMART (Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association) estimates that collection bins keep about 4 billion pounds of clothing out of landfills each year. Treat that as an industry estimate rather than a government figure.

Store take-back and clothes recycling programs

H&M

H&M’s garment collecting program is the most open of the retail options. You bring “clean, previously loved clothing or textiles” from “any brand” to a store and drop them in the collection box. H&M says it has gathered “over 172,000 tonnes” since 2013. Sorting is done by Looper Textile Co., which H&M Group and REMONDIS launched in 2023. For 2025, H&M reports that 63% of collected items went to resale, 24% to repurposing or recycling (cleaning cloths and insulation, for example), 3% to textile-to-textile recycling, and about 10% was disposed of, with energy recovery prioritized. That breakdown is useful context: most “recycled” clothing is actually resold, and fibre-to-fibre recycling is still a small slice. Older press mentioned a 15%-off voucher, but the current U.S. page doesn’t mention one, so don’t count on it.

Levi’s SecondHand

Levi’s trade-in runs only at select U.S. Levi’s retail stores, not outlets, and there is no mail-in option. It takes men’s and women’s Levi’s denim bottoms, shorts and jackets, but no kids’ items or accessories. The limit is one trade-in per month of up to five items, and credit comes as a Levi’s digital gift card. For unwearable items, Levi’s says it will “donate or properly dispose of the garments on your behalf in exchange for a 10% discount” on your next purchase. The same FAQ also says items should be “in good condition,” so the condition rules conflict. Ask the store before you bring worn-out jeans. Wearable vintage pairs may be worth more sold elsewhere; the vintage Levi’s hub covers what to look for.

Patagonia Worn Wear

Patagonia accepts “most Patagonia clothing and gear that’s completely functional, clean and in good condition,” in store or by mail with a “$7 shipping label.” Credit is paid as a gift card. If an item isn’t accepted, Patagonia says “we can return it to you or recycle it.” Patagonia doesn’t publish credit amounts on the trade-in page, so check the quote it gives you.

The North Face and Nike

The North Face’s current trade-in terms took effect on 9/24/2024 and replaced its earlier take-back terms. Well-worn items that don’t qualify are still “recycled or donated,” per its policy page. The older Clothes the Loop program took any brand, but a 2022 report said the U.S. program was relaunched as “Renewed” with a focus on The North Face’s own products, so don’t assume it still takes other brands.

Nike says “select participating Nike stores in the US are piloting” a Recycling + Donation program for Nike footwear and apparel. Items are hand-inspected and sent to donation or recycling. Nike doesn’t list participating stores, so ask your local store.

ThredUp Clean Out

ThredUp’s Clean Out kit is a resale service first. On the Standard option, “all unaccepted items will be reused + responsibly recycled,” while Premium sellers can ask for unaccepted items back. With the donation option, ThredUp donates “$5 per donation bag” to the charity you choose. Fees change, so confirm them on ThredUp’s help center. The selling clothes on ThredUp guide walks through how payouts work.

Thrift stores and textile recycling

Thrift stores handle more textiles than any brand program, but their policies on damaged clothing vary. Goodwill of the Heartland says “Clothing not suitable for resale can be recycled” and takes clothing in any condition. Other Goodwills decline stained items, because Goodwill is about 150 independent organizations with their own rules. The Goodwill donation drop-off guide shows the regional differences.

Savers, the for-profit chain behind Value Village, reports “3.6B+ pounds of goods diverted from North American landfills” from FY2021 to FY2025, and about $534 million paid to nonprofit partners over the same years. Its ESG page cites the Ellen MacArthur Foundation finding that “<1% of the material used to produce new clothing is recycled into new clothing,” but it doesn’t describe Savers’ own textile-recycling process. Store hours are in the Savers hours guide.

City textile programs: the NYC example

Some cities run their own clothing recycling. New York City’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is a detailed example, and the rules below apply only in NYC.

• DSNY-hosted textile drop-off sites in all five boroughs are open “every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.”
• Most sites accept “Clean clothing and coats (new, gently-used, or damaged),” shoes, hats, bags, gloves, towels, curtains and bedding.
• Items must be “clean, dry, odorless, and in bags.” Donations at these sites are not tax-deductible.
• DSNY’s free textile collection service places bins in apartment buildings with 10 or more units, office buildings, certain businesses, schools and nonprofits. It runs with NYSID and Helpsy and accepts clean rags and “ripped or damaged material.”
• NYC businesses must separate and recycle textiles if textiles make up more than 10% of their waste in any month.

Outside NYC, search your city or county sanitation site for “textile recycling.” Many places rely on drop-off bins, which are covered in the clothing donation bins guide, including how to tell who runs a bin.

How to recycle old clothes: a sorting checklist

1. Sort into three piles: sellable, wearable-but-plain, and damaged.
2. Sell the sellable pile. Brand-name and vintage pieces often earn more resold than donated.
3. Donate the wearable pile to a charity or thrift store whose rules you’ve checked.
4. Recycle the damaged pile through H&M, a city site or a recycler that states it takes damaged material.
5. Wash and dry everything. Wet or mouldy textiles are a problem for every program; NYC asks for “clean, dry, odorless” items.
6. Bag it. Most drop-offs want bagged textiles. A pile of reusable Large Storage Bags For Donations on Amazon can be carried to the store and brought home empty.

The verdict

Clothing recycling works best as the last step, not the first. Wearable clothes do more good resold or donated, and even H&M’s own figures show that most collected items end up resold rather than turned into new fibre. For truly worn-out pieces, H&M is the most accessible option because it takes any brand. Levi’s, Patagonia and The North Face suit owners of those brands who want store credit. If you live in NYC, DSNY’s drop-off sites explicitly take damaged clothing, which most charities won’t. Wherever you are, check the official page before you go: retail programs change their terms and voucher offers without much notice, and the 2018 EPA numbers make it clear there is plenty of room for improvement.

FAQ

Where can I recycle clothes near me?

Start with H&M stores (any brand), brand trade-ins if you own Levi’s, Patagonia, The North Face or Nike, local thrift stores that say they recycle unsellable clothing, and your city’s textile program. Check each official page for current terms.

Can you recycle clothes with holes or stains?

Some programs take them. NYC’s DSNY sites accept “damaged” clothing, and Goodwill of the Heartland recycles clothing not suitable for resale. Many charities decline damaged items, so check first.

What percentage of clothing is recycled in the US?

The EPA’s most recent figures, from 2018, put the recycling rate for clothing and footwear at 13% and for all textiles at 14.7%. No later EPA textile figures have been published.

Does H&M still give a voucher for recycling clothes?

The current U.S. garment-collecting page doesn’t mention a voucher. Older press reports describe one, so ask your store rather than assuming.

Is recycling clothes better than donating them?

For wearable clothes, no. Reuse keeps a garment in service, and the EPA doesn’t even count reused textiles as waste. Recycle what can’t be worn.