Major retailers now accept your old clothes for recycling — regardless of brand or condition. Drop off worn-out garments and earn discounts, store credit, or just the satisfaction of keeping textiles out of landfills.
Three simple steps to recycle your clothes through retail take-back programs.
Collect clothing, shoes, or textiles you no longer need. Most programs accept items in any condition — even stained or torn.
Bring items to a participating store or request a mail-in kit. Bag them up and hand them over — it takes less than a minute.
Many programs offer discounts, store credit, or coupons as a thank-you. Your old clothes get a second life as new products or materials.
Detailed guides for 12 major retailers with clothing recycling and trade-in programs.
Common questions about retail take-back and clothing recycling programs.
It depends on the retailer. H&M, Zara, The North Face, and Reformation accept any brand in any condition. Patagonia, Levi's, Eileen Fisher, and Girlfriend Collective only accept their own brand. Check each program's details above.
Yes! Most in-store collection programs (like H&M, Zara, and Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe) accept items in any condition. Torn, stained, and worn-out textiles are typically shredded and recycled into insulation, cleaning cloths, or new fibers. Trade-in programs (like Levi's SecondHand or The RealReal) typically require good condition since items are resold.
Items are typically sorted into three categories: Rewear — good-condition items are resold or donated. Reuse — items are repurposed into cleaning cloths, insulation, or other products. Recycle — fibers are broken down and spun into new textiles. Very little ends up in landfills when you use these programs.
Incentives vary widely. Madewell's $20 off denim and H&M's 15% coupon are straightforward and easy to earn. Trade-in programs like The RealReal can pay significant commissions on luxury items. Even without a discount, you're keeping textiles out of landfills — the average American throws away 81 lbs of clothing per year.
Several programs offer mail-in options: ThredUp (free Clean Out Kit), Patagonia (prepaid label), Eileen Fisher (prepaid label), Girlfriend Collective (prepaid label), and The RealReal (free shipping kit or in-home pickup). These are great options if you don't live near a participating store.
Nike Reuse-A-Shoe specifically focuses on athletic shoes. H&M, Zara, The North Face, and ThredUp accept shoes and accessories along with clothing. The RealReal accepts designer shoes, bags, and jewelry. Check each retailer's specific guidelines.
Disclaimer: Retail take-back program details are based on publicly available information and may change. Always check the retailer's website for the most current terms, conditions, and availability before visiting.