You’ve heard of recycling paper and aluminum cans, but did you know you can also recycle clothes? Several Birmingham retailers offer recycling programs to help the Earth one garment at a time. Read on to find out how you can help them on their mission by trading in your favorite items.

1. Casings

Children go through clothes quickly due to frequent growth spurts, stains and tears. So how do caregivers donate and resell their children’s used clothes? Carter’s has a great solution. Through a partnership with TerraCycle, Carter’s offers KidCyclea free clothing recycling program.

To participate in the program, follow these steps:

1. Click here to become a member of Carter’s Rewarding Moments store loyalty program. Membership is free.
2. Create a TerraCycle Account using the same email address as your Carter’s Rewarding Moments account, then download and print the available prepaid shipping label.
3. Seal your box of items (no shoes or accessories) and ship it via your local UPS.

When your items are received and processed, you will receive 25 points in your Carter’s Rewarding Moment loyalty account.

*Shipments must weigh 15 pounds or more to earn Carter’s My Rewarding Moments points.

Where: at Carter’s, 6200 Grand River Blvd E, Leeds, AL 35094
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11am-7pm | Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
Website | Facebook | instagram

2.Lululemon

Lululemon’s exchange program, Like New, is a quick and easy way to recycle your gently used items and get store credit. According to the Lululemon website100% of lululemon Like New profits are reinvested in their sustainability initiatives.

• What they accept: Clean, lightly worn lululemon clothing and equipment. It must work perfectly and be in good condition.

• What you will get for your exchange: an e-gift card that can be used in your store or at boutiquelululemon.com.

• Here’s how much credit you can get:
  • Shirts, shorts + skirts – $5 credit
  • Hoodies, sweatshirts, sweaters, pants, riding crops, leggings + dresses – $10 credit
  • Large bags (backpacks, duffle bags + tote bags over 10 L) – $10 credit
  • Outerwear – $25 credit

Buy like new.

Where: 220 Summit Blvd, #140, Birmingham, AL 35243
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-9pm | Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
Website | Facebook | instagram

Want to recycle more than clothes? Check out this guide to recycling in Birmingham.

3.Madewell

Are you a fan of Madewell jeans? Get ready to love them even more. Madewell is another clothing retailer you’ll find in Birmingham that is all about sustainability. In fact, the company is on a mission to become fully sustainable by 2025.

Thanks to a partnership with Cottons Blue Jeans Go Green™ program, Madewell offers a clothing recycling program called madewell forever. Cute, right? The program takes your favorite denim in any fit, style or color and recycles it so it can be made into housing insulation.

According to the Madewell website, when you shop the brand’s used models instead of buying new, you reduce carbon emissions by 82%. Plus, check out these stats made possible by the recycling program:

• 1,096,265 pairs of jeans have been recycled to date
• 1,462 homes could be built with insulation made from your passed down pairs of denim
• 548 tons of waste were saved from landfills

Here’s how it works: To redeem your favorite denim, no matter the brand!, visit your local Madewell store or click here and follow the mailing instructions. In return, you’ll get $20 off a new pair of Madewell jeans. Buy Madewell Forever here.

Where: Madewell Birmingham, 214 Summit Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35243
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-9pm | Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
Website | Facebook | instagram

4. Marine layer

Nothing beats the perfect t-shirt. What makes them even better is being able to give them a second life. Marine Layer’s unique recycling program, Re-spun, allows you to trade in your old t-shirts for store credit. Here’s how it works:

• Bring your old t-shirts to your local Marine Layer store or opt for mail-in when you request a recycling kit here.
• Receive $5 in store credit for every t-shirt you donate.
• Marine Layer turns your shirts into recycled yarns.
• Your old tees have a second life.

Marine Layer will accept most T-shirts, but cotton ones are ideal as they can be broken down more easily into recycled yarn. While Spandex in sportswear fabric is harder to break down, Marine Layer will still accept it for other uses like housing insulation.

Where: marine layer, 200 Summit Blvd, #450, Birmingham, AL 35243
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11am-7pm | Sunday, 11am-6pm
Website | Facebook | instagram

5. Patagonia

For outdoor clothing and gear, Patagonia is a popular brand found locally at stores like Alabama Outdoors, Mountain High Outfitters, and REI. As a company that creates items for the outdoors, it only makes sense that they are pro-Earth, use sustainable materials, and offer a recycling program to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Patagonia’s Worn Wear program is a recycling initiative that allows consumers like you to exchange gently worn Patagonia apparel in-store or by email. In return, you will receive a retail credit of up to $100 to use online or at local stores that carry this brand.

Here is what they accept:

• Clothing for men, women and children
• Equipment like backpacks, tote bags + sleeping bags

Where: Find the Patagonia brand at Alabama Outdoors, Mountain High Outfitters and REI
Website | Facebook | instagram

6. SoZo trading company

SoZo Trading Company is another local business that strives to reduce, reuse and recycle. As a thrift store, the shop already highlights pre-worn clothes, but in August 2021 the company took things a step further. It has launched a new program that recycles or transforms old materials into new products. The recycling plan involves reweaving fabric into new garments as well as turning fabrics into home insulation and carpet padding.

Do you have extra clothes, shoes, bags or boxes? You can give it your all to SoZo Trading Co.

Where: SoZo Trading Co, 4 41st St S, Birmingham, AL 35222
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Website | Facebook | instagram

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