China generates over 26 million tons of used textiles every year, yet the recycling rate is under 20%. Most fabric that could be recycled ends up as waste. The real problem isn't the clothing itself, but whether the right recycling channels are used—proper recycling allows used clothes to enter export, regeneration and second-hand circulation systems.

Based on public data, used clothes collected through proper channels generally follow four paths. Charitable donations account for about 10%, provided the clothes are clean and undamaged. Overseas export has the largest share, about 60% to 70%; summer clothing and jeans in good condition mainly go to African and Southeast Asian markets, where demand for low-priced, durable clothing is stable and profits are considerable. Regeneration and processing account for about 20% to 30%: worn-out clothes are shredded to produce insulation materials and automotive soundproofing cotton; synthetic fabrics can be processed into industrial rags and roadbed cloth, while cotton clothing becomes recycled cotton used in automotive soundproofing cotton and furniture stuffing. About 5% that cannot be used at all undergoes compliant disposal. The whole process produces almost zero waste, and export remains the industry's largest source of revenue.

Environmental benefits also come from this chain. Data shows that for every 1 kilogram of clothing recycled, about 3.6 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions are reduced and 6,000 liters of water are saved. Demand for recycled fibers has been rising recently, and brands are paying more attention to sustainable materials.

However, consumers need to be wary of recycling channels that pass off inferior goods as genuine. CCTV exposed at the end of 2025 that used clothes were directly refurbished without disinfection and flowed into livestream rooms, passed off as "big-brand overstock," and labeled "default defects, no returns or exchanges" to evade responsibility. Some livestream rooms attract buyers with low prices like 3 items for 6 yuan with free shipping, while the actual source is unwashed second-hand clothing.

Another common trap is in residential communities. A considerable proportion of the collection boxes posted with "charity donation" labels have no public welfare qualifications; in reality, they are zero-cost supply warehouses set up by unscrupulous merchants exploiting consumers' goodwill. At present, civil affairs departments, together with urban management, have implemented filing and registration management for community collection boxes, requiring them to indicate the responsible entity and a supervision phone number; collection boxes without filing are all removed.

For households, there are three main criteria for identifying proper recycling channels: possessing a legal business license and handling processes that meet environmental standards; uniform pricing calculated by weight with transparent prices; and support for online appointments and free door-to-door pickup by courier.

In terms of process, taking some platforms as examples, it basically has three steps: online appointment, free door-to-door pickup, and weighing and re-weighing for settlement. Services covering more than 300 cities nationwide usually promise pickup within as fast as 2 hours, a minimum collection weight of 3 kilograms, courier fees borne by the platform, and settlement earnings that can be withdrawn or exchanged for daily necessities. Before submitting items, it is necessary to understand the boundaries: clothing for all seasons, shoes, bags and accessories, bedding, and plush toys (required to be clean and undamaged) are recyclable; mattresses, curtains, sofa cushions, as well as stained, moldy clothing, intimate underwear, and socks are not accepted for recycling.

In terms of price, the average price of used clothing recycling in 2026 rose by 35% to 45% year on year, with higher recycling prices for high-quality fabrics such as pure cotton, down, and wool.

For the industry, the key variable in this chain is formalization: only after measurement and quality sorting are completed at the front end can there be a stable supply of exports and recycled materials at the back end. Demand for used clothing export resources still exists in overseas markets, but if chaos in collection boxes and non-compliant refurbishing are not cleaned up, the effective supply that can truly remain in the export and regeneration system will always be limited.

Source: Throwing away used clothes is a big loss! Export to Africa, regeneration and processing, a hundred-billion industry a year, your family can also get a share__SMZDM · Originally published on 2026-07-04