Expecting charity shops to recycle your unwanted clothes is creating a rubbish pile – here’s how to help to avoid that
Violet Broadhead
Charity shops are generally seen as a responsible way to get rid of unwanted belongings. In theory, donating items allows them to be reused and raises money for important causes. However, many charity shops struggle to make use of the donations they receive.
The UK has more charity shops per person than any other country, handling hundreds of thousands of tonnes of used clothing every year in addition to a wide range of other household items.
When goods are donated to charity shops, they are...