I’ve lived in six different apartments over the years, and during my several moves, I’m often confronted with what I should leave behind, like old clothing or unused electronics. But what exactly do I do with pillows that have lost their cushioning or that old, ripped duvet that’s gathered dust in my closet?
Most bedding is considered household textiles, like curtains, drapes, or rugs. You typically can’t recycle these through your kerbside recycling program (though, you can consult your own program by doing an online search to be sure).
[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/04/how-to-properly-recycle-your-plastic-yogurt-containers/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/r0yulsnqugboarcouvjn.jpg” title=”How To Properly Recycle Your Plastic Yogurt Containers” excerpt=”When it comes to recycling, we all make mistakes.”]
If you’re interested in recycling a duvet to be made into new products like carpet padding, you can request a pick up with Clean Away, or search for a nearby textile recycling facility online.
Pillows, however, generally aren’t as easy to recycle. You may be able to find a facility that accepts foam pillows using the locator, but for hygienic reasons, you can’t donate them to most secondhand stores.
But if you want to save a little time and even help some dogs and cats in the process, you should contact your local animal shelter and ask if you can drop off your used bedding. Why? Shelters will often accept your spare duvet or pillows as bedding for animals. It’s a perfect trade-off and you can help animals feel a little more comfortable in unknown settings.
[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/01/what-to-do-with-all-your-stuff-that-doesnt-spark-joy/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/iidnhvfrnu6bygylsssc.png” title=”What To Do With All Your Stuff That Doesn’t ‘Spark Joy’” excerpt=”It’s Marie Kondo’s world now, and we’re all just trying to declutter in it.”]
If you’re interested, here are some helpful tips from one Reddit thread on the subject:
-
Wash them before you donate them.
-
Avoid donating any bedding with holes.
-
Avoid donating any torn bedding, with strings and stuffing hanging out.
-
If you can, cutting up a large duvet into smaller duvet (likely, so more animals can benefit from your donation).
And, because it needs re-iterating, check with your shelter to make sure they accept your donated bedding before you make the drop-off. As Redditor u/KimKimMRW mentioned, you don’t want to inundate a shelter with any unneeded product.
The need for duvet and pillows varies from shelter to shelter depending on demand, so a quick call can save both of you time.
Comments