The Ohio State University is taking steps to address a growing environmental issue: textile waste. From June 1 through August 1, Ohio State faculty, staff, and students will have the opportunity to responsibly dispose of their end-of-life clothing through a dedicated recycling drop-off location on campus.
The collection site will be located just inside the main lobby of Kottman Hall at 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43202. This initiative aligns with a regional textile diversion pilot supported by SWACO, which aims to identify scalable solutions to keep unwearable clothing out of landfills.
What Is “End-of-Life” Clothing?
End-of-life clothing refers to items that are no longer suitable for wear, resale, or donation. These include:
- Torn or ripped garments
- Stained or discolored clothing
- Worn-out textiles that cannot be repaired or reused
These items are often thrown away due to limited recycling options. Through this pilot, collected materials will be repurposed for use in products such as insulation for sound-proofing cars and filling for punching bags giving them a second life and keeping them out of the landfill.
What’s Accepted
The drop-off location will accept a variety of post-consumer textiles that have reached the end of their usable life, including:
- Worn-out shirts, pants, and sweatshirts
- Damaged (clean) socks and underwear
- Old towels, sheets, and other fabric-based household items
Note: Clothing and textiles that are still wearable or in good condition should be donated to a local charity or shelter instead. All clothes should be dry and mold free.
Why It Matters
According to SWACO, Central Ohioans throw away an estimated 30 million pounds of clothing and textiles each year, most of which could be reused or recycled. By participating in this pilot program, the Ohio State community is helping to test practical, long-term solutions for reducing landfill waste and supporting a more circular economy.
Learn more or find other local end-of-life clothing drop off sites online.