ReWear Ballina: Creating a Circular Clothing Community

Avoid: Shop your own wardrobe first. If you really want something, take a week to think about it and see if you still want it.

Reduce: Keep your unwanted items out of landfill by giving them away, selling or donating.

• Give items to friends or family (ask first) or organise a clothes swap with friends, colleagues or neighbours.
• Try selling unwanted items on Facebook marketplace or other local buy/swap/sell groups, on eBay, Depop, or others.
• If you plan to donate, only donate clean, good quality items you would proudly give to a friend. Bring them into an op shop during donating hours only or look at Givit to match your donation to someone in need. See our responsible donating guide here.

Repair / repurpose: Give old items new life by repairing, upcycling or repurposing.

• Local repairers or alterations services can easily be found online if you don’t know how to repair items yourself. The Northern Rivers Reuse and Repair Trail is a good place to start. 
• Fabric scraps can be repurposed into cleaning cloths/rags, gift wrap or other craft ideas.

Recycle: If you cannot rehome or repurpose clothing and textiles, there are recycling options you may consider.

• Upparel  offers a legitimate paid textile recycling service.
• Tread Lightly recycles sports shoes – try Intersport or SportsPower Ballina, check online for additional locations and for specifics about what can be recycled.
• Linens and towels can be recycled at Sheridan stores (free service).
• Some companies accept trade-ins of their own brand items, including Patagonia and Macpac.

• The average Aussie buys 55 items of new clothing each year. A garment is only worn an average of 7 times before being thrown away or donated
• Over 200,000 tonnes of clothing is landfilled each year in Australia (nearly 4x the weight of the Sydney Harbour Bridge). In 2024, 880 million items of clothing were landfilled.
• After food and garden waste, textiles are the most common items in domestic landfill bins across Ballina
• The textiles sector is responsible for 8-10% of yearly global greenhouse gas emissions (more than aviation and shipping combined)
• 60% of all clothing made from plastics (synthetic fibres and blends like polyester, nylon, etc), which shed microplastics every time they are worn or washed
• Washing synthetic clothing accounts for 35% of all microplastics in the ocean, making them the largest source of microplastic pollution in the world’s oceans
• Buying a T-shirt and pair of jeans secondhand could save the equivalent of 20,000 standard bottles of water

• Shop second hand and Australian made wherever possible.
• Learn to read labels and look out for natural fibres, not made of plastics.
  • Fabrics to look out for:
    • 100% cotton
    • Linen
    • Hemp
    • Bamboo
    • Wool
    • 100% recycled fabrics
  • Fabrics to avoid:
    • Polyester
    • Nylon
    • Acrylic
    • Spandex/lycra
    • Recycled PET
    • Acetate
    • Elastane
• Check the Ethical Fashion Guide for ethical businesses.

How we care for and launder our clothes impacts how long they last and the time, energy and water we dedicate to laundry.

• Wash clothes less. Aside from undergarments, you’re probably washing most items too frequently. Most items like pants, jeans, dresses, skirts, jumpers and jackets can last at least three wears before washing. Many items just need a spot clean or couple hours in the sun instead of a full wash.
• Wash on cold. The biggest cost to washing clothes? Heating the water (75% to 90% of energy use). Washing on cold can slash electric or gas bill and stretch the life of your clothes. Washing on cold means clothing is less likely to shrink or colours to fade. Cold water can remove dirt, stains, odours as well or better than hot water on most items – just be sure to use hot water if a family member has been sick.
• Air dry. Most fabrics lose about 50% of their strength after just 20 drying cycles. Drying outdoors in direct or indirect sunlight is best. Sunlight is a natural disinfectant and can remove odours. If indoors is the only option, use a dehumidifier or fan in the room to ensure air circulation.