Since I am an artist...and see things in aesthitic ways, I started taking old clothes...all sorts, and sewing/attaching cut and torn pieces of them to a piece of jute rope. I use a big needle and strong upholstery cord to make a string of clothing pieces, each irregular in shape, but about 8 to 9 inches high and maybe that wide. I incoporate fronts of shirts that include pockets, and knees that have been scuffed through. After you get seven to ten of these cloth pieces attached, see what they look like strung up...like prayer flags. I call them Urban Prayer Flags, and they can be used to decorate all sorts of areas, inside and out.

They are a sure sign that an Urban Peasant is nearby!

If your clothes are made of Capilene, they're made of recyclable polyester.  Patagonia will recycle old Patagonia "base layers" ... yes kids - longjohns.  Just drop them off at your local Patagonia store or mail them to:

Patagonia Service Center
Attention: Common Threads Recycling Program
8550 White Fir Street
Reno, Nevada 89523-8939

But please...wash 'em good first.

Hey--  I see ads periodically (or you sould sew it yourself) to take the message portion of old Tshirts from , say,  that Save the Redwoods Rally, or a Drain Lake Foul parade, etc, and stitch them into cool and memorable quilts!!!

Take that, recyclers. Then later it becomes the dog bed, and then....
Bruce P
Tucson, AZ

Thanks, Ravenz!  I love this and can't wait to do it!

This is my first blog comment.  I am new to
Grist.  I am the recycling coordinator for our town and we recycle clothing in bins called Kiducation.  They are a reputable charity that sells our clothes for recycling or shredding and our schools get a small percentage.  They use the money they make towards children's charities.

Nike sneakers are recycled into running track material and their foundation makes grants to schools and towns for new or rebuilt running tracks.

Be careful of the yellow bins on private property that are labeled Planet Aid.  If you google this organization you will see why.  I am trying to follow the Grist rules by not disparaging outright certain organizations that only use 10% of their proceeds for charitable purposes.

Lastly, we have a new bin in town for books and audio and video tapes, magazines, etc.  They vow to find new homes for these items and they also cut us a check for each 20ft container we fill.  If they cannot find a new home for items, they make sure the items are recycled.  They also are a reputable charitable organization and use any money they make with our recyclables to make donations to other charities.

Happy recycling.  Remember that it is your tax dollars that pay the tipping fees to the landfills for everything you put into the waste stream.  If concern for the earth does not move you, perhaps that financial incentive will.

Peace to all.
Mary McDonald