Thrifting is More than Just a Trend
By: Sarah G
Thrifting and searching for vintage clothing, accessories, or furniture has become quite popular, but is it just a trend, or do people actually know the essential benefits of thrifting?
Excess waste is a significant problem in the United States and is a danger to the environment and our population. The U.S. produces “more than 12% of the planet’s trash,” even though it is home to “only 4% of the world’s population” (Environment America). America generates the “largest amount of municipal solid waste,” also known as trash or garbage, per person, daily, among industrialized countries (EPA). Waste is disposed of through landfills, incinerators (burning waste), and even the natural environment; these disposal methods affect the whole world, including the land, air, and water. America’s surplus of waste creates threats to human health, the environment, and the global climate.
From extracting materials to shipping and disposing of products, each step negatively impacts the environment, slowly chipping away the beauties and pureness of the natural environment. In the process of extracting materials, such as mining, we are at risk of further polluting the air or water. Mining also disrupts wildlife and their habitats. As products and goods are manufactured and transported, the air becomes further contaminated by factory and vehicle pollution. Incinerators burn waste, releasing toxic substances into the air. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is released as waste decomposes; this makes landfills, large areas where waste remains for hundreds of years, considerable contributors to the greenhouse gas emissions, a cause for global climate change. Plastic is a common one-use product that is often disposed of in landfills, and plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose. The waste itself and chemicals from the waste (leachate) seep into the water, contaminating drinking water and marine life habitats. The stubborn plastic is washed into bodies of water, creating danger to marine life. Waste washed into the water poisons the animals, becomes ingested, or entangles the animals, creating life-threatening risks for the majestic marine creatures. These are some of the many factors that contribute to excess waste, and it is our responsibility as humans to cut back on the waste we produce.
Textiles, such as clothing, are significant contributors to each person’s waste production in America. In the USA, every year, each person produces about 60 to 80 pounds of textile waste of 1,800 pounds total. Textile waste is quite persistent, taking months or years to break down completely. Additionally, “manufacturing, producing, packaging, and distributing new clothing takes a lot of energy and water,” and disposing of clothing “takes a toll on the environment” (Goodwill). Buying secondhand clothing and thrifting is a simple way to reduce individual waste.
Buying secondhand clothing and thrifting has become popular, but it is much more than just a temporary trend. Since textile waste takes months or years to disintegrate, repurposing clothing, furniture, home decoration, shoes, books, accessories, and much more is a simple way to reduce our waste as humans. First, donating clothing you’ve worn too many times for your liking, accessories, furniture, or more, rather than discarding them to the landfill, will reduce your waste and provide more variety for the thrift shops. Additionally, thrifting offers lower prices than buying products brand new. Thrifting also eliminates the need to extract, manufacture, and transport materials. On the fashion aspect of things, thrifting allows you to create a unique wardrobe, having special pieces, unlike your classmates, associates, or neighbors. Thrift stores have a wide variety of clothing, accessories, shoes, and more, and they frequently receive new products. Thrifting and donating clothes benefits others thrifting, your wallet, and the environment.
Each individual in America produces excess waste, having detrimental effects on the environment and wildlife. There are numerous options to reduce one’s environmental impact, one being thrifting. Thrifting and donating clothing is a simple way to reduce waste, benefiting the hurting environment.
Works Cited
Alaskans for Responsible Mining. “Environmental Impacts of Mining.” WMANE, Western Organization of Resource Councils, 28 Dec. 2004, wman-info.org/resource/environmental-impacts-of-mining/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.
Environment America Research & Policy Center. “Trash in America Moving from destructive consumption towards a zero-waste system.” Environment America, 30 Sept. 2021, environmentamerica.org/reports/amc/trash-america. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.
“5 Incredible Benefits of Thrift Shopping.” Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries, www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/benefits-of-thrift-shopping/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.
“LMOP National Map.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, 7 Oct. 2021, www.epa.gov/lmop/lmop-national-map. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.
Magill, Bobby. “Study: EPA May Be Underestimating Landfill Methane.” Climate Central, 21 Sept. 2015, www.climatecentral.org/news/epa-may-underestimate-landfill-emissions-19474. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.
Weiss-Roessler, Juliana. “20 Amazing Benefits of Thrift Shopping You Probably Never Expected.” Lifehack, www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/20-amazing-benefits-thrift-shopping-you-probably-never-expected.html. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.
“What are the trends in wastes and their effects on human health and the environment?” United States Environmental Protection Agency, 29 Dec. 2021, www.epa.gov/report-environment/wastes. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.
