What Happens to Our Donated T-Shirts?

We Americans are always in a rush to throw away or donate t-shirts to make room for the latest and greatest. It’s no wonder the used t-shirt market is so invisible, but yet very much present at the same time. So, what happens to our donated t-shirts? Donated shirts fall into three categories:  rags, recycled textiles, and overseas exports.

Generally when we donate shirts, the assumption is that someone else will find and like the shirt enough to buy it and add it to their daily wardrobe. However, more than 80% of donated shirts wind up in incinerators or scrap heaps. This is mainly due to mildew, stains, or defects.  Garments that have mildew can contaminate most, if not all the surrounding garments. In these cases, those garments are thrown out. For the shirts that have stains or defects, (such as holes, snags, etc) those are typically repurposed as rags for cleaning (towels, dusters, etc). Other ways they can be reused is to stuff pillows, baseballs or softballs, and furniture. Old shirts can also be used for insulation in homes. Now you recognize that most of the time your donated clothes are not actually being worn.

As we all know, not all donated shirts are bad to the point of being down-cycled. Some shirts are simply worn or frayed. The shirts that fit in this group are typically recycled as textiles.  The process starts by sorting garments according to the fabric type and color. Once the shirts are sorted, from there they are torn or shredded into smaller, more manageable pieces. At this point in the process, items that are not fabric related such as buttons, slide adjuster, or zippers are removed. Organic fibers are cleaned and separated mechanically to break down tufts of fibers. After these steps are completed, the fibers are re-spun into threads to be used for knitting and sewing. This entire process helps to save energy and money by prolonging the longevity of existing fibers.

Now you may wonder: What happens to a perfectly good donated shirt? Shirts that are clean and free of defects are commonly exported overseas. Every year, an estimated 700,000 tons are shipped abroad. We export t-shirts to over 100 countries around the world. Only a fraction of shirts actually stays in the United States. The most common ports that receive America’s donated shirts include the ports of Asia (more specifically India and China), Africa, and South America. The shirts that get sent overseas create a large market and opens employment to those living in more impoverished areas within a particular nation. The garments are resold at a much lower cost than that which was purchased by the original owner. Whether you realize it or not, a donated shirt may now belong to someone who needed it and will wear it more than you!

As it shows, donating shirts can result in a number of outcomes that you may have never imagined. Maybe your donated shirt will be down-cycled, recycled to create nearly new fibers, or maybe it will be used to clothe someone less fortunate. Either way it goes, now you know what happens to our donated t-shirts!