🌎 From Trash to Trail: Celebrating Earth Month with BirdieBlue

Earth Month is a great reminder to take a closer look at what we buy, what we use, and what happens when we’re done with it. If you’ve ever stood in your closet holding a pile of clothes thinking, “What do I actually do with this?” you’re not alone.

Donate it?
Sell it?
Recycle it?
Throw it away?

There isn’t just one right answer. But there is a better way to think about it.

What we didn’t realize about clothing donation

Like many people, we used to think donating clothing was the solution. Clean it out. Drop it off. Feel good about it. And sometimes, that works. But the reality is more complicated.

Globally, over 92 million tons of textiles are thrown away every year. Only a small percentage of donated clothing is resold locally. What doesn’t sell is often bundled, sold to textile graders, and shipped overseas.

Some of it gets reused. A lot of it doesn’t. And when supply outweighs demand, it can still end up in landfills, just somewhere else. That doesn’t mean don’t donate.

It means: Where you donate matters.

And those easy drop bins at gas stations or parking lots? They’re easy for a reason. They've built for volume, not always for thoughtful redistribution. Taking a little extra time to research partners, local nonprofits, consignment shops, or direct redistribution networks, can make a real difference. There’s no perfect answer but there is a better order of operations:

Step 1: Wear It Longer (The Most Sustainable Option)

Before we even talk about donating or recycling, the most impactful thing you can do is simple: Keep using what you already have. The longer you wear something, the lower its environmental footprint becomes. Patch it. Layer it. Get one more season out of it.

Especially with outdoor gear. These pieces are built to last. Use that to your advantage.

If you’re not sure where to start, there are some great resources to help:

• Patagonia’s Worn Wear Repair Guides (free tutorials for fixing gear yourself)
• iFixit Clothing Repair Guides (step-by-step fixes for zippers, seams, and more)
• Local outdoor shops often host repair clinics or can point you to trusted repair partners

Sometimes the most sustainable choice isn’t buying something new. It’s getting a little more life out of what you already love.

Step 2: Repair It

If something breaks, rips, or stops functioning properly, repair it. Many outdoor brands have built strong repair programs designed to extend the life of their gear:

• Patagonia Worn Wear – repairs + resale platform
• Arc’teryx ReBird – repairs and product care
• Burton Repairs – lifetime warranty and repair support (BirdieBlue partner so we can vouch they are walking the walk!)
• Stio Second Turn – resale + repair-focused circular program (BirdieBlue partner so we can vouch they are walking the walk!)

You can also look locally:

• Tailors and seamstresses (often faster and more affordable than you think)
• Outdoor retailers (many offer repair services or referrals)
• Gear repair specialists (for technical fabrics and zippers). Here is a great resource for researching gear repair local to you thanks to Articles in Common!

Extending a garment’s life by even 9 months can significantly reduce its environmental impact.

Step 3: Resell It (Give It Another Life)

If it’s still in good condition but no longer your style, pass it on. This is one of the best ways to keep clothing in circulation, out of landfills , and hey you can even make a little $$ while you are at it!

Options include:

Local + Outdoor-Specific

• Outdoor Gear Exchange (Burlington, VT) – one of the best consignment shops for outdoor gear
• Local ski swaps + school or community gear sales

Online Platforms

• Geartrade – outdoor-specific resale marketplace (BirdieBlue partner. HIGH recommend!!)
• Poshmark – great for everyday apparel
• ThredUp – easy mail-in resale for women’s clothing

Community-Based

• Facebook Marketplace
• Buy Nothing groups (hyper-local, high reuse success)

If it’s still wearable, there’s a good chance someone else is looking for exactly what you have.

Step 4: Donate It (But Do It Thoughtfully)

Donation can be powerful, but it’s important to understand how it actually works. Only a small percentage of donated clothing is resold locally. What doesn’t sell often gets:

• Sold to textile graders
• Shipped overseas
• Resold in secondary markets

Some of it finds new homes, but a large portion can still end up unsold and eventually in the garbage. That doesn’t mean don’t donate, it just means: Where you donate matters.

Taking a little extra time to choose the right organization can make a real difference in whether your clothing is actually reused.

Direct Impact Organizations

• COTS (Committee on Temporary Shelter): Clothing goes directly to individuals experiencing housing insecurity
  
• Spectrum Youth & Family Services: Supports youth in need with direct access to clothing and essentials
  
• Local mutual aid groups / Buy Nothing Project: These options are more likely to get clothing directly into people’s hands—quickly and locally.

Mail-in Recycling options

• Retold Recycling: Retold offers easy-to-use mail-in recycling bags. Instead of your old clothes and fabric scraps (hello-crafters this is a dream!) ending up in the trash, Retold works to responsibly sort and divert them from landfills through recycling and reuse channels. And the best part? You can get these recycle packs right on BirdieBlue's website HERE.

Step 5: Upcycling

When your gear has been repaired, worn, and loved to the point where it can’t be resold or reused anymore, you can send it to us here. 

We’ll break it down and turn it into something new, creating upcycled outdoor bags that carry forward the story of where that gear has been.

💙 The takeaway

We didn’t build BirdieBlue because we had all the answers. We built it because we saw what was missing.

A next step.
A better ending.
A way to keep the story going.

And if there’s one thing to take away, it’s this: Nothing you own is truly “done” until you decide it is. Between repair, resale, thoughtful donation, upcycling, and recycling, there are more options than ever. It just takes a little intention.

If you’ve got gear sitting in your closet and you’re not sure what to do with it—we’re always here to help.

Because the best adventures don’t end. They just get carried forward. 🐦💙

Thank you for helping us celebrate and protect Mother Earth EVERY DAY!

Xoxo, 

Kate 

BirdieBlue's Founder