Earth Week is a time to celebrate the beauty of Earth and advocate to help keep our Earth clean.

Now, I know we aren’t all perfect and sometimes we might put paper and plastic into the garbage instead of the recycling bin. We might even leave our TV on when we leave the house. Sometimes the things we are told to do to help the environment aren’t the only ways to keep it clean–there are many other creative ways to help.

According to GreenLiving.com, “Americans discard an estimated 68 pounds of clothing a year, while buying 10 pounds of recycled clothes. In 2006, 2.5 billion pounds of fabric were kept from the landfills by used-clothing purchases…. Yet about 99 percent of what is thrown away can be recycled.” That’s right: The clothing on your back can help aid in the salvation of our environment. Here’s some simple ways you can help with that old pair of sweats in your closet.

Recycled clothes:

According to GreenLiving.com, “There are multiple environmental benefits associated with recycling clothing. It reduces the amount of pesticides used in growing cotton or to make fabrics from petroleum sources and the water needed to dye fabrics, and cuts down on the pollutants, greenhouse gases and volatile organic compounds released into the water and air from manufacturing processes.”

Recycling clothing is easy and all it takes is a simple transition. Throw your clothes in a recycling bin rather than your average garbage can or use that old T-shirt as your new cleaning rag.

Donating clothes:

There are thrift stores and resale shops. Plato’s Closet or local stores like Cracker Jax, 118 N. Third St., will gladly take some of your donated clothes and accessories. Take your old and used clothing in to exchange it for some cash instead of throwing it away and polluting the environment. Also, places like Goodwill or the Salvation Army provide tax forms for tax deductions on your donated objects.