Need to get rid of old clothes? You’re not alone: With fast fashion, it’s easier than ever to follow trends. But cheap clothes aren’t made to last, most of which often end up in a landfill (垃圾填埋场). Take US as an example: per person generates an average of 82 pounds of such waste every year, with 85 per cent of it going to landfills even though 95 per cent can be reused.
Donating is a popular alternative — but know that only about 10 to 20 per cent of donated clothing gets sold at thrift shops (廉价旧货店). While all but five per cent of donated clothes are resold for reuse or recycling, it’s impossible to know exactly how much ultimately becomes trash.
The best way to ensure good, usable clothing doesn’t become waste is to increase the chances it ends up with someone who wants it. First, don’t wait too long if you choose to donate clothing to an organization, big or small. The sooner you donate your unwanted items, the more demand there is for them. Wherever you donate, ensure clothes are clean and dry. If it’s damaged or stained, don’t send it to thrift shops. They don’t have the capacity to do repairs and it just creates a financial burden in addition to the eco-burden, and defeats the purpose of the charitable action.
Clothes that are stained or damaged beyond repair will likely never be re-worn but can still be diverted (使转向) from landfills. You can send your clothes directly to recycling companies, like through Retold Recycling or municipal programmes. Old clothes can be downcycled into other items like wipers for car washes, and even generated into new textiles (织品).
Recycling is better than landfilling. It might take time to do a little research to find the right organization that can actually use the items you’re looking to give away. But it’s more rewarding than throwing everything in a big garbage bag, dumping it into a bin, and hoping for the best.
【小题1】What can be learnt about fast fashion?| A．It has reduced the eco-burden. |
| B．It has caused clothing waste. |
| C．It has lost its appeal in the US. |
| D．It has led to a rise in landfills. |
| A．To show the seriousness of the clothing waste. |
| B．To criticize the spending habits of Americans. |
| C．To push for tougher laws against fast fashion. |
| D．To offer practical advice on managing landfills. |
| A．Make them into new textiles. |
| B．Put as many into landfills as possible. |
| C．Downcycle them into wipers. |
| D．Donate them to where they are needed. |
| A．Critical. | B．Indifferent. | C．Supportive. | D．Unclear. |
