In all of 2015, about 75 pounds of clothing were thrown away per person in the United States. Several years later, that amount has only increased — the average American citizen threw away about 82 pounds of clothing during the year 2020. What many heavy consumers don’t realize is that when you throw clothes “away,” they still end up somewhere.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with enjoying thrift shopping — it helps curtail fast fashion and the exploitation of garment workers around the world. However, the needs of people who need thrift stores the most can’t be overlooked.