Every year Australians buy 27kgs of new clothing per person and throw away 23kgs each year. That’s six tons of unwanted clothing going to landfill every 10 minutes in Australia. Many of the clothes that are thrown out are made from synthetic fabrics. These contain microplastics that are harmful for the environment.
Through small, local steps, we can all play our part in keeping clothing out of landfill.
Here are some ideas you can try to when out shopping for clothes:
- Shop preloved, buy clothing from Op Shops or Thirft Shops or secondhand from online marketplaces.
- Buy quality over quantity and clothes made from eco-friendly materials.
- Rent clothing for special occasions.
If you do have unwanted clothing, you can:
- Attend the upcoming Clothes Swap at Springvale Community Hub.
- Donate clothing to charities, or through our Homecycle program.
- Visit the Planet Ark website to find a list of places you can take clothing and textiles that is not suitable for rehoming.