How to Recycle Clothes in Australia (Even the Damaged Ones!)

UPPAREL makes recycling super easy with their home collection service.

For a small fee, they’ll collect your clothing (in any condition), plus shoes, linen, and other textiles.

Everything is reused, repurposed, or recycled locally in Australia, keeping waste out of landfill.

They accept:

• Clothing, shoes, linen, and textiles in any condition (including damaged or unwearable items)
• Accessories such as socks, underwear, and even old fabric offcuts

Good to know:

• Fee applies for collection service
• Everything is reused, repurposed, or recycled locally, nothing goes overseas

Prefer to post it? RCYCL has you covered.

For a small fee, you can purchase a prepaid mail bag from their website, fill it with your unwanted clothing, and send it straight to them for responsible recycling.

It’s perfect if you don’t have time to drop items off in person.

They accept:

• Clothing in any condition, including worn or damaged
• All genders, ages, and fabric types

Good to know:

• Fee applies (purchase a mail-in bag via their website)
• Easy Australia-wide service, no need to find a drop-off point

These legends also offer a home collection service (for a fee) and accept clothing in any condition, even underwear.

Everything they collect is cleaned, shredded, and transformed into new yarn, giving fabrics a brand-new purpose.

They accept:

• Clothing in any condition, including heavily worn items
• Even underwear, which most programs don’t accept

Good to know:

• Fee applies for home collection
• Items are processed in Australia and recycled into new materials

Based in Sydney and Melbourne, After provides a pickup service for used or unwearable clothing.

For a small fee, they’ll collect your textiles and send them to their recycling partners, where they’re turned into new materials and products.

They accept:

• Used, damaged, or unwearable clothing and fabrics
• Mixed materials, including cotton, polyester and blends

Good to know:

• Fee applies for home collection
• Items are sent to textile recycling partners for conversion into new fabrics and products

Yes, your favourite fashion brand is getting in on the action!

Zara stores across Australia now have free textile collection bins for all kinds of items.

Clothes, shoes, accessories, and even linen, no matter the condition.

They accept:

• All brands and types of clothing
• Shoes, accessories, and household textiles like sheets or linen

Good to know:

• Free service at select Zara stores
• Items accepted in any condition, from gently worn to damaged

If you’re a Patagonia fan, you’ll love their trade-in program.

Bring in your pre-loved Patagonia gear and you’ll receive store credit. Items that can be repaired are mended and resold in their second hand shop, keeping quality clothing in circulation for longer.

They accept:

• Patagonia brand only clothing and gear
• Items that are worn, damaged, or in good resale condition

Good to know:

• Store credit offered for trade-ins
• Repaired items are resold in Patagonia’s Worn Wear second hand shop

Got tired towels or old sheets? Sheridan accepts any brand of pre-loved quilt covers, sheets, and towels for recycling.

Drop them off at any Sheridan Boutique, Studio, or Outlet store. If recycling isn’t an option in your area, and your items are beyond saving, you can dispose of them in your regular garbage bin.

They accept:

• Quilt covers, sheets, pillowcases, and towels (any brand)
• Items that are clean and dry

Good to know:

• Free drop-off at Sheridan Boutique, Studio, or Outlet stores
• Only home textiles, no clothing
• If unfit for recycling, items should go in general waste

Partnering with local councils, Give a Sheet for the Planet runs regular collection events for old sheets, towels, pillowcases, and quilt covers (just make sure they’re clean).

Check their website to see if there’s an upcoming event near you, it’s a fantastic way to recycle larger household textiles.

They accept:

• Old sheets, pillowcases, quilt covers, and towels (must be clean)
• Linen from any brand

Good to know:

• Free community events (check their website for dates and locations)
• Drop-off only, no ongoing pickup service