Every year, approximately 12 million tons of clothing and fabric waste are thrown into the garbage each year. With all of the talk about recycling paper and plastic, why shouldn’t the same hold true to your clothing?

Recycling clothing isn’t exactly the same as recycling materials like paper or plastic. It doesn’t have to be a huge task, either! Recycling your old clothing can be as simple as cleaning out your closet and filling a bag for clothing donation. In 2011, an estimated 2 million tons of clothing and textiles were recycled or given as charitable donations. Even giving clothing that no longer suits you to younger siblings or relatives counts as recycling your old items.

If you’re wondering how to make time for cleaning out the closet or sorting through your clothing, there are a few things you can do! Going through clothing can be as simple as folding your laundry. If there’s something that no longer interests you or one of your family members, simply put it in a bag instead of back in your clean laundry. Even if you’re gifted a new coat or sweater for the holidays, switching it out for an older one is an easy task. Another easy way to determine what can be donated is to ask yourself whether or not you’ve worn it in the last six months. If not, it might be time to pay a visit to your local charity clothing pickup.

An estimated 90% of clothing and textiles thrown out in the last few years could have been recycled and reused. It’s not difficult to donate clothes to families in need; your clothing donation could help someone in need. It could even help someone close to you! In 2011, an estimated 2 million tons of clothing was donated to charity, and with minimal time, you can help make that number grow.