Question from R.M.
HI Debra and Green Living Blog Readers:
For example, I can either pay a couple thousand for organic mattresses or insurance will cover the 3″ polyurethane foam mats.
I have several articles of clothing which are no longer useful. They are stained, or ripped, or otherwise inappropriate for donating as used clothing.
I do not want these articles to end up in the landfill, but they are taking up valuable space in my bedroom. I have already repurposed holey socks into rags, and may cut up a few t-shirts for that use as well, but I don’t need many more rags, and I have a pair of unwearable jeans that is plaguing me. Any creative suggestions would be much appreciated.
Debra’s Answer
Well, oddly enough, the answer is to take your nonservicable clothing to the Goodwill or Salvation Army.
When they get donations of clothes that are too worn to re-sell in their shops, these organizations send the clothing to “rag sorters” that specialize in recycling fabrics of all types and sizes. About half the clothing gets sold in developing countries, while garments like cotton t-shirts are turned into wiping and polishing clothes and sold to industries and consumers. Some textiles are shredded into fibers used to make new products, such as fine quality “rag” paper, and blankets.
