The average American throws away 80lb of clothing every year?!

[Duppers]

The average American throws away 80 lb of clothing every year! Just THROWS it away! I knew I was an anomaly but I had no idea. I don't even buy 30lbs a yr much less throw away 80lbs!

Just clothing. Doesn't include ragged linens, which go into my big rag box anyway. Paper towels to clean with? What's that?

[hlthe2b]

1. Clothing actually is fairly "weighty"... (Or so I tell myself every time I have to step on a scale)

[virgogal]

3. Best laugh I've had all day.

[customerserviceguy]

8. That was a good one! n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. My clothes are very heavy. They must have lead weights in the hems.

Oddly, they don't seem quite so heavy when I take them off.

[sandensea]

2. It's a misleading figure, as that includes what stores throw out.

Plus what a lot of households themselves "throw" out, ends up in Thrift stores.

And what they can't sell, mostly ends up in Africa.

[CountAllVotes]

4. Tried to sell old clothes to a thrift shop

They would not take them as they were all worn out.

So, off to the dump they went!

[sandensea]

6. Picky, aren't they!

That's the first time I've ever heard of a clothing donation rejected by a thrift sto' - although I don't doubt it happens.

Nor do I doubt some might throw away a percentage of what people donate - but behind their backs so as not to offend the customer.

In any case, if they do, I doubt anyone keeps the statistics.

That said...

[customerserviceguy]

9. You think thrift shops are picky?

Try going to a consignment store with them. Almost more trouble than it is worth.

The figure in the OP does not surprise me, Americans buy a lot of clothes on impulse, and who hasn't gotten clothing as a gift that they never would have bought for themselves? It hangs in the closet, or gets stuffed in a drawer, until finally, no more room, and then housecleaning begins.

We could starve China in the course of a year if we simply stopped buying clothing from them, and made do with the massive excess we've got here.

[sandensea]

10. I hear you.

I haven't stepped in one in 20 years.

This was in Orange Cunty, CA. It was run by the most awful Republican church ladies - and ridiculously overpriced too.

The second they realize that you're mostly just browsing, they start giving you those evil stares - the kind only a Republican church lady can emit.

[customerserviceguy]

11. You mean like this?

[sandensea]

12. Ha! Just like that - but sideways

And carping among themselves - though I'm not sure it was about me.

But what bothered me the most were the prices, which were at (or above) what you'd see in a furniture store.

And a lot of that stuff, though in good shape, looked as though it had been bought in the Gerry Ford years.

Very Brady Bunch-esque.

[KT2000]

13. Love that - thanks!

[sandensea]

14. You're welcome. It's a hoot.

You know, since the Bush calamity, thrift stores have become quite popular - along with LPs.

I can tell you that whereas a decade ago I had the LP section mostly to myself, now I have to get there early (or be lucky) to find any nice ones anymore.

These days, if you walk into a thrift store anytime after lunchtime, all you'll find are Polka, Bill Gaither, Mantovani, and Jimmy Swaggart LPs.

Plus the occasional Russian-language album.

Maybe I should send one to Cheeto!

[KT2000]

15. had LPs at my garage sale

and it was the young people who buy them up (you may be young too) even though some were really scratched up. They didn't care.

I haunt thrift stores for fabric - the old stuff is better quality and affordable. It might even be an addiction at this point.

Do send the LP to Cheeto to prepare him for his future.

[CountAllVotes]

16. When my mother died ...

She left behind a small wardrobe and guess what, not even Salvation Army would take her things!

Picky picky indeed!

[sandensea]

20. I'm sorry to hear about your mom's passing, CountAllVotes

As for those clowns at the Salvation Army - don't get me started!

A friend of mine, whose father was senile but refused to agree to a conservatorship, had over a million dollars allegedly hoodwinked from him by those miscreants.

This was in the 1990s sometime. They apparently realized he was out of it, and began sending him a barrage of solicitations - to which he answered each one with a big, fat check.

He was very secretive about his finances - even from his wife (never a good idea) - and it was only when he passed she found out.

She sued - but to no avail.

[CountAllVotes]

21. thank you for the condolences

My mother has been gone for almost 20 years now (but it seems like just yesterday!).

As for the Salvation Army, well Mr. CAV worked for them for awhile. They had him jumping through hoops and acted as if they were going to give him a good job but that was just a big joke to get him to work even harder. They were paying him $4.25/hr.

So sickening! The dump was a far better option!!!

[exboyfil]

5. Unless I grow out of it

er my waistline. I only retire clothing when it gets stained or worn out. My wife hates my ragged shirts which I continue to wear.

My problem is that I have probably three wardrobes of different waist sizes.

[CountAllVotes]

7. That is my problem as well

I have lost a tremendous amount of weight due to illness.

I wish I could say it was from great new diet I've found but it is not.

Oh well ....

[Dagstead Bumwood]

18. We throw away too much of everything.

So, clothing being included in that doesn't surprise me.

I will throw out sox and underwear when they develop holes or just wear away. But, shirts, pants, coats and the like all get donated. Mostly to the Vietnam Veterans association. I just bundle up my donation in one of their yellow bags and they come by and pick it up. So, there's not excuse for people not to try a little harder to donate.

[Duppers]

19. Same here....

Except for the 'Nam Vets - our older things go to the a general Veterans Assoc.

Almost nothing ends up in the trash, except underwear & hubby's worn-out dress socks. Cotton socks are put into my rag box.