Textile waste is one of the most overlooked environmental issues of our time, and household textiles and clothing are significant contributors to this problem. The fast-paced fashion industry, combined with the convenience of cheap clothes and the increasing use of synthetic fibers, has created an unsustainable cycle of production and waste. Every year, millions of tons of clothes are thrown away, and much of it ends up in landfills. This is not only harmful to the environment but also a waste of valuable resources and potential for reuse. The solution to this problem is to reduce the amount of textiles that end up in landfills, and that’s where Retold Recycling comes in.
The process of recycling with Retold is simple. First, collect all the textiles in your home, then order a bag or sign up for a subscription. Fill your bag with anything from one sock to a full wardrobe and drop it off at your local post office, mail room, or door man. Each bag comes with a pre-paid label, so you’ll never have to wait in line at the post office. You can take as long as you want to fill and send in your bag. Retold bags and prepaid delivery labels do not have an expiry date or send-by date.
Retold works with partners to sift and sort your goods, sending them to thrift stores, donation centers, recyclers, resellers, and up-cyclers. The result is a supply chain that ensures that nothing from your Retold bag will end up in a landfill.
So, what happens to the items you send to Retold? First, they are sorted by type and quality. Clothes that are in good condition are sent to thrift stores, where someone new can love them. Clothing that is in less than perfect condition is sent to charity stores, where they can still be of value to the community. And, finally, textiles that are beyond repair are sent to recycling companies, where they are broken down to create new fashion. Scraps from the recycling process are used for insulation, car seat inners, and much more.
Retold offers annual or quarterly subscriptions, or you can buy individual bags with no commitment. The subscriptions are great for families, shoppers, and anyone who needs a prompt to clean out their closet. Plus, with the purchase of an annual or quarterly subscription, you’ll have access to Retold Rewards, which offer discounts and offers from partner brands. With six bags per subscription, you can receive up to $90 in rewards per year.
Retold bags are 15x15x4 inches and can hold up to 5 lbs. You can include all clean and dry household textiles and clothes, from wedding dresses to odd socks. Once sorted, the items will go to thrift stores, charities, upcyclers, or recycling companies. Post-consumer individual items submitted in Retold bags will never go directly to landfill.
Household textiles include blankets, towels, dish cloths, bed linen, and cotton face masks. Unfortunately, Retold doesn’t accept pillows or cushions, as they are not suitable for resale and difficult to recycle. Retold accepts some shoes but not all; lightweight, new-ish shoes that can be donated or resold are okay, but heels or sharp hardware will break the bags.
Retold bags are made from cornstarch and are completely biodegradable and compostable, so you can feel good knowing that your recycling efforts aren’t adding to landfill waste. Retold has already saved countless tons of clothes from landfill, and the yellow “ticker” on their website shows just how much of a difference they’re making.
Retold Recycling is an innovative solution to reducing textile waste. With its simple and convenient mail-in service, you can say goodbye to clutter and hello to a more sustainable future.
