Damaged clothes, shoes and household linens don’t have to get dumped into the trash any more. These ites can be recycled into industrial wiping cloths, sound-proofing and home insulation. So along with reusable clothes, gather up your mismatched socks, ripped T-shirts, and faded old sheets for the next clothing and textile drive.

Nearly 95 percent of the clothes, shoes, and linens that Americans toss into the garbage could have been recycled or reused.

Many thrift stores, drop boxes, and others accept all items in any condition these days. Partners of the Threadcycle campaign (sponsored by King County and Seattle Public Utilities) all take items that are stained, holey, or damaged, as long as they are not wet, mildewed, or contaminated with hazardous materials. Some are reused, and some get recycled into new products.

For more information about where you can give your clothes, shoes, and linens for reuse or recycling, check out the Threadcycle website at http://kingcounty.gov/threadcycle.