Charity Clothes Donation: Where Textile Really Goes 👖

Charity Clothes Donation 👖: Where do you think your clothes go after donating them to charity? There are a number of options available, and we will cover all of them in this blog. 

How do you get rid of your old clothes? Do you dispose of them if you won’t wear them anymore? Donating them to charity is a much better option. Below are some of the benefits of donating old clothing.

• Helps people in need – Your donated clothes can go directly to individuals or families who need them.

• Reduces landfill waste – It keeps textiles out of landfills, which helps the environment.

• Supports charitable programs – Many charities sell donated clothes to fund their community services.

• Promotes sustainability – It encourages a circular economy by extending the life of clothing.

• Declutters your home – Donating gives you a cleaner, more organised space.

Truthfully, a lot of you already know these benefits I’ve mentioned above. However, what some of you might not know is where your donated pieces of clothing really go. We will cover more of that below.

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Charity clothes donation: here’s where they really go

Each year, Australians donate the equivalent of 250 million pairs of jeans to charity. Dropping off a bag at a secondhand store feels like a win for sustainability, but the real journey of a charity clothes donation is more complex than most people realise. According to the Guardian, here’s where your donated clothes usually go.

The journey

When you gather clothes for a charity clothes donation, you probably imagine them going straight to someone in need. In reality, the journey is a bit more complicated, and not every item ends up exactly where you think.

First, the clothing you donate is sorted. Items in good condition — clean, undamaged and still in style — are selected for resale in charity shops. These sales generate essential funding for charitable programs across Australia.

However, the odds vary depending on how and where you donate. If you bring clothes into a store and hand them over directly, they are far more likely to be resold (up to 50% of these donations make it to the shop floor). On the other hand, donations left outside in charity bins, especially during bad weather, often get damaged before staff can even sort through them.

Clothes that are slightly worn, out of season or lower in demand are diverted elsewhere. They might be sent to central sorting facilities, bundled up for bulk sale or earmarked for export.

Even items that you believe are “good enough” might not meet strict resale standards. Stains, small tears, missing buttons or outdated styles can all downgrade an item’s chances of being sold locally.

Ultimately, while a charity for clothes donation is still better than throwing clothes away, it’s important to know that donating isn’t a guaranteed second life for your garments.

Quality, presentation and timing all matter and being thoughtful about your donation choices can significantly increase the odds of your clothes finding a new home.

What happens to the rest?

Not everything makes it to the shop floor. Clothes that aren’t fit for sale often head overseas. Australia exports about 100,000 tonnes of clothing each year to countries like the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Pacific Island nations.

These clothes are sorted again — some are sold cheaply in local markets, while others are shredded into industrial rags or downcycled into insulation materials. Some of these rags even find their way back to Australia for commercial use.

Sadly, about 14% of donated clothes are unusable from the start and end up in landfill either locally or shortly after being exported. Although well-intentioned, the mass exporting of used clothes can burden developing countries with waste they aren’t equipped to handle.

Charity clothes donation: the environmental challenge

The secondhand system is struggling under the weight of fast fashion. Even when you donate through trusted charities that accept clothing donations, the sheer volume of poor-quality garments flooding the market means not everything can be reused. Blended fabrics — common in cheap clothing — are especially difficult to recycle, and true fabric-to-fabric recycling remains rare and costly.

While donating is far better than tossing clothes into general waste, it’s important to understand that a donation doesn’t automatically guarantee a second life for your garments.

Here’s how to donate smarter

To make your charity for clothes donation truly matter:

• Donate directly inside stores, not outside in the weather.

• Ensure clothes are clean, wearable and in good condition.

• Recycle unwearable textiles properly using specialist programs.

• Buy fewer, better-quality garments to reduce waste upstream.

Charity clothes donation: Waster’s final thoughts

While donating clothes remains a noble and responsible choice, it’s important to approach it with mindfulness. By understanding where your clothes really go — and what happens to them beyond the donation bin — you can ensure that your generosity truly makes a difference.

Not all donations are recycled or reused in the way we envision, and low-quality or damaged items often end up in landfills or are exported overseas, adding to waste problems in developing countries.

To create a positive impact, focus on donating clean, wearable clothes that have a genuine chance of being reused or resold. Support charities that accept clothing donations and offer transparent and sustainable practices. Additionally, as consumers, we should look to reduce waste at the source by investing in quality garments and considering circular fashion options.

By being more thoughtful about how we donate and what we buy, we can help make a meaningful contribution to reducing textile waste globally.

Contacting Waster

Looking for a specific bin service? Check out our waste recycling shop and find the best deals in terms of pricing and services.

Also, please call 1300 WASTER (1300 927 837), or email us at enquiries@waster.com.au if you have any further questions.