The average American purchases 53 items of clothing a year. The current amount of clothes purchased is four times higher than in 2000. 65% of new garments are discarded within 12 months of purchase.
The Ecology of Fashion. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, November 16, 2024–August 31, 2025.
Massachusetts Impact
Every year Massachusetts residents and businesses throw away about 230,000 tons of usable textiles.*
*Based on data from Municipal Waste Combustor Class II Recycling Program Waste Characterization Studies, 2022.
Effective November 2022, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has banned all textiles items and recycling from the trash in the Town of Lexington.
As a result, the Town provides several resources for recycling textiles.
See our Google Map of Second Hand clothing stores here. See our Tips for Second Hand shopping here.
Participate in a Clothing Swap
Keep an eye out in our newsletter for the LexZeroWaste/LexFun Costume Swap in October. Start your own clothing swap with your network and/or join the Textiles Working Group to organize one with us!
Focus on quality and avoid synthetic fabrics when selecting textiles
Textile Waste Resource Page
U.S. Impact
The average American purchases 53 items of clothing a year. The current amount of clothes purchased is four times higher than in 2000. 65% of new garments are discarded within 12 months of purchase.
The Ecology of Fashion.
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA,
November 16, 2024–August 31, 2025.
Massachusetts Impact
Every year Massachusetts residents and businesses throw away about 230,000 tons of usable textiles.*
*Based on data from Municipal Waste Combustor Class II Recycling Program Waste Characterization Studies, 2022.
“Used Textiles: A Valuable Resource.”
Mass DEP, May 2024
There is Some Good News!
Effective November 2022, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has banned all textiles items and recycling from the trash in the Town of Lexington.
As a result, the Town provides several resources for recycling textiles.
Town of Lexington textile recovery resource page
LexZeroWaste offers these additional suggestions and resources
Repair your existing clothing.
Join our Textiles Working Group and/or drop-in to one of our public mending sessions.
Shop Second Hand
See our Tips for Second Hand shopping here.
Participate in a Clothing Swap
Keep an eye out in our newsletter for the LexZeroWaste/LexFun Costume Swap in October. Start your own clothing swap with your network and/or join the Textiles Working Group to organize one with us!
Focus on quality and avoid synthetic fabrics when selecting textiles
Launder your clothes less frequently and use eco-friendly products when possible.
Consider making your laundry zero waste by purchasing detergent at a refillable store like Center Goods using your own container.
Downcycle or recycle textiles that are beyond repair
The Town of Lexington has drop-off bins for Bay State Textiles at all the public schools and at the Hartwell Ave. facility.
Advocacy
Learn about bills at the state level that seek to address our Textile Waste problem, such as H.1032, “An Act to Establish Environmental Accountability in the Fashion Industry”.