3) Out with the Old, in with the New

If you're like me, you're waging an eternal battle against clutter. Because many of us receive shiny new things at this time of year (or have to spend those gift cards somehow!), we're often looking to clear space by getting rid of possessions that have finished serving their purpose for us. While it's great to donate if your items are in usable condition, charitable organizations are frequently inundated with stuff they can't use and just have to chuck anyway. Short of hoarding your holey socks and underwear for eternity, then, is there a creative solution to avoid sending them to the landfill? A 5-second internet search for "textile recycling" provides me with several drop point options in my area. The "Ask Ms. Green" article in the July/August 2020 edition of the Sierra Club magazine, for example, recommends the company USAgain, and if there's not a local drop box, some companies that sell new clothing, such as the underwear retailer Knickey, offer mail-in textile recycling programs. I, for one, also found it fascinating to read what is done with the clothing that's not wearable anymore. Did you know that your home's insulation could be made in part out of someone else's holey underwear?!