Every year, Waste and Recycling Workers Week gives us the chance to shine a spotlight on the dedicated individuals who keep our communities clean, sustainable, and moving forward. At Planet Aid, we proudly join in this celebration to recognize the vital contributions of our own team, especially those on the front lines who collect, sort, and process millions of pounds of donated clothing and shoes each year.
Their work doesn’t just keep neighborhoods tidy—it helps protect our environment, supports the circular economy, and gives used textiles a valuable second life.
The Hidden Cost of Textile Waste in the U.S.
In the United States alone, an estimated 17 million tons of textiles are discarded every year. Shockingly, 85 percent of this ends up in landfills or incinerators, rather than being reused or recycled. That’s more than 14 million tons of clothing, shoes, and fabric-based items that could have had a second life, either in someone else’s wardrobe or as raw material for new products.
What’s more troubling is the environmental damage caused by this waste. Most modern clothing is made using synthetic fibers derived from petroleum. When these items are dumped in landfills or burned, they leach toxic chemicals and release greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change and polluting soil, air, and water.
Planet Aid Workers: Turning Waste into Opportunity
Planet Aid is committed to tackling this crisis head-on. Each year, our hard-working staff collect and process millions of pounds of used clothing and shoes from donation bins, community drives, and special collection events. These items are sorted and sent for reuse, either in secondhand markets in the U.S. and abroad or for recycling into new materials.
Behind this effort is a dedicated team of drivers, warehouse staff, logistics coordinators, and sustainability professionals who ensure that donated textiles are handled with care and purpose. It’s grueling, behind-the-scenes work that doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves, but it’s absolutely essential for reducing waste and conserving natural resources.
Our team also recovers and responsibly disposes of non-textile waste and illegal dumping that often occurs at donation sites, at no cost to local communities. In Massachusetts alone, Planet Aid collected and properly recycled 21.5 million pounds of trash between 2012 and 2023. That’s on top of the 181 million pounds of clothes and shoes we gave a second life to during the same time.
A National Challenge, A Local Solution
Planet Aid’s work is especially critical in the wake of state-level policies like Massachusetts' textile waste ban, which prohibits the disposal of textiles in the regular waste stream. With programs like solar-powered donation centers, at-home pick-up services, and clothing drives for schools and communities, we’re making it easier than ever for people to keep clothing out of the trash.
But none of this would be possible without our employees. Their commitment and resilience are what make Planet Aid a trusted and innovative partner in the fight against textile waste.
Thank You to Our Waste and Recycling Workers
This Waste and Recycling Workers Week, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the incredible individuals at Planet Aid who make reuse and recycling possible. You are more than just workers—you’re climate defenders, waste warriors, and unsung environmental heroes.
Your efforts are helping to reduce pollution, extend the life of valuable materials, and build a future where sustainability is part of everyday life. We’re proud of the work you do, and we’re grateful every day—not just this week—for your service to our mission and the planet.
Let’s all take a moment to recognize and appreciate the hands that move the needle toward a cleaner, greener world.
Want to show your support?
Drop off your gently used clothes and shoes at a Planet Aid bin near you. Every donation you make honors the work of our team and helps keep textiles out of landfills.