the donation myth, busted

why the bin isn't the end of the waste cycle

For decades, we’ve been taught that dropping a bag of old clothes at a donation bin is a "win-win." We clear our closets, and someone in need gets a wardrobe. But as we enter 2026, the data tells a much darker story. The truth is that the traditional donation model is buckling under the weight of "fast fashion," and your well-intended gift might be headed for a landfill halfway across the world.

the 10% Truth

Did you know that only about 10% to 20% of clothing donated to local charities is actually sold in their thrift stores?¹ Because the volume of incoming clothing is so massive—and the quality of modern "disposable" fashion is so low—staff often have to skim only the absolute best items to keep their shops viable.

This quality filter is just as strict for local charities that provide clothes directly to families. Because these organizations prioritize the dignity of the children they serve, any item that isn't in "like-new" condition is often diverted to the same waste streams as the large thrift chains. And that’s after volunteers have spent 30% - 50% of their time sorting through unusable waste.2 

where does the rest go?

If your items aren't picked for the sales floor or a local family, they enter a global "salvage" chain that is far from sustainable:

• The export burden: Approximately 70% of donated clothing is baled and sold to exporters.³ Millions of items land in markets in countries like Ghana and Kenya every week.
• The landfill at the end of the world: Because so much of this clothing is in poor condition or made of cheap synthetic fibers, up to 40% of exported clothes are deemed "trash" immediately upon arrival.⁴ They end up burned in open-air pits or clogging local waterways.
• The downcycle trap: Items that aren't exported are often shredded into industrial rags or insulation. While this keeps them out of the trash for a moment, it’s a "dead end"—less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is ever recycled back into new clothing.⁵

why "Circulating" is the 2026 solution

Donation bins have become a "guilt-free" way to dispose of junk. But at Carousel, we believe in circulation, not just disposal.

When you choose to pass along your lightly pre-loved  items with us, you are bypassing a broken system. You are ensuring that "good condition" clothing stays in its highest form—as clothing—rather than being shipped overseas to become someone else's pollution.

pro tip: where to send the all-used-up stuff

If it’s stained, torn, or pilled, don’t send it to us and don’t put it in a donation bin. Use a dedicated Textile Recycler who can turn those fibers into something new:

• Terracycle: Offers "Zero Waste Boxes" specifically for fabrics and clothing.
• Trashie: Purchase a "Take Back Bag" to recycle your end-of-life clothes and earn rewards.
• Retail Drop-offs: Many H&M and Patagonia locations accept any brand of worn-out clothing for their own recycling streams.
• NYC drop-offs: This map from the city government shows where you can drop-off textiles for recycling at greenmarkets, stores and other locations in the 5 boroughs.

the new standard for 2026

In a world where 85% of all textiles still end up landfilled or incinerated,⁶ the most radical thing you can do is be picky about where your kids' outgrown clothing goes next.

1. recycle the worn-out stuff through the pros listed above.
2. make sure styles ready for "round two" get to play again by circulating them with Carousel. 

Our children deserve a world where "pre-loved" actually means "still loved." Let’s stop donating to the problem and start circulating the solution.

sources

1. The Roundup (2026): 17 Most Worrying Textile Waste Statistics
2. Cradles to Crayons / Charity Watch (2025): The Hidden Cost of Unusable Donations on Nonprofit Operations (Reflecting the ~50% volunteer sorting time metric).
3. Reader's Digest (2025): What Really Happens to Your Donated Clothes
4. Rawshot (2026): Global Clothing Waste Report: Ghana and Chile Impacts
5. Ellen MacArthur Foundation via Performance Days (2025): The Role of Recyclers in Textile-to-Textile Systems
6. EPA.gov: Textiles: Material-Specific Data