Why now is the perfect time to set your clothes free!

Australians are the biggest consumers of clothing globally, buying an average of 53 items of clothing per person each year.

And the truth is that while we’re buying new clothes on the regular, we all have those items stuffed in the backs of our wardrobes that we swear we’ll wear again someday – or even wear it for the first time – but deep down, we know that won’t happen.

The charitable recycling sector in Australia receives 190,000 tonnes of clothing and footwear donations each year, but of that only 51,000 tonnes are re-sold. This is mainly due to the poor quality of a majority of the donated items.

The cost of disposing these low-quality items then falls back onto charities, taking away from the important work they do.

That’s why, on Saturday 24 May, you’re invited to set your clothes free.

Set your clothes free clothing donation drive

On Saturday 24 May, from 9 am to 3 pm, our friends at Green Industries SA are inviting you to Set your clothes free in SA’s largest ever clothing donation drive.

There will be 8 locations to choose from, run by SA councils and local charity stores, and all South Australian residents are invited to drop off their unwanted, but still high-quality clothing and footwear.

What can I drop off?

Any items of clothing and footwear that you no longer want, but are still in good, wearable condition will be accepted.

If you wouldn’t give the items to a friend or family member to wear, then they’re likely not good enough to be donated.

Can I also drop off linens?

Yes, household linens and textiles can also be dropped off at any of the 8 event sites.

Types of linen accepted include:

• Bathroom linen – face cloths, hand towels, and bath towels and sheets
• Bed linen – bed sheets (flat and fitted), quilt and doona covers, pillowcases and bedspreads
• Kitchen linen – tea towels, fabric napkins and tablecloths
• Other textiles – curtains, microfibre cloths, wool blankets and bath mats.

Any linen you drop off must be clean for it to be accepted. Linen that is torn or damaged, and linen that has been used as a paint drop sheet will be accepted – as long as it’s been washed after use.

What types of linen and textiles won’t be accepted?

Items that will not be accepted include:

• Clothing and footwear in poor condition – if you wouldn't give it to a friend or family member, it isn't in good enough condition to be donated
• Doonas and pillows
• Mattresses.

Where can I drop off my linens?

Eight drop-off sites across Adelaide will be open Saturday 24 May, from 9 am to 3 pm.

• Adelaide Waste and Recycling Centre // Salvos Stores
  181 Morphett Road, North Plympton SA 5037
  
• Beverley Recycling and Waste Centre // RSPCA
  2-4 Toogood Avenue, Beverley SA 5009
  
• Burnside Civic Centre // Australian Red Cross
  401 Greenhill Road, Tusmore SA 5065
  
• City of Onkaparinga Field Operations Centre // Salvos Stores
  Lot 10 Railway Road, Seaford Meadows SA 5169
  
• Gawler Sport and Community Centre // Salvos Stores
  Nixon Terrace, Gawler SA 5118
  
• Heathfield Works Depot // Red Nose
  32 Scott Creek Road (entry via Brick Kiln Rd)
  
• Tea Tree Gully Civic Centre Car Park // Salvos Stores
  571 Montague Road, Modbury SA 5092
  
• Victor Harbor Civic Centre // Red Nose
  1 Bay Road, Victor Harbor SA 5211

Check out this map to find your nearest drop-off point.

What will happen to my clothing and linen once it’s been collected?

Collected clothing, footwear and linens that are of a high quality will be sorted and distributed to our participating charitable organisations for resale.

Collected household linens that are not high enough quality for resale will be processed for recycling by TeXtura– the dedicated textile logistics and recycling solutions division of Shred-X.

TeXtura will work with Australian-based textile recyclers to process the linens into new textile products through a mechanical recycling process.

To learn more about the Set your clothes free donation drive, visit the Green Industries SA website, or call 1300 137 118