Don’t Throw Away Old Clothes! How I Recycled Mine at a Daegu Recycling Center

 

1. Introduction

Most people throw away their old clothes without thinking twice. But did you know that in Korea, there’s an easy and eco-friendly way to give your clothes a second life?
I recently discovered a recycling center in Daegu that accepts clothing donations — and it completely changed how I think about “trash.”

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2. Why You Shouldn’t Just Throw Clothes Away

Old clothes are one of the biggest sources of textile waste in landfills.
According to global studies, over 85% of discarded textiles end up being burned or buried.
But in cities like Daegu, recycling programs allow you to donate, reuse, and even earn small rewards for helping the environment.

Not only does this reduce waste, but it also supports local charity and sustainability programs — your unwanted shirt could literally help someone in need.

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3. My Experience at a Daegu Recycling Center

Last week, I packed up a few bags of old shirts, jackets, and jeans and visited a local “Jaweon Sunhwan Nanumteo” (Resource Recycling Donation Center) near Hyo-mok-dong in Daegu.
The place was clean, well organized, and surprisingly welcoming.

1. Staff members politely guided me on how to separate recyclable clothing vs. unusable fabric.
2. Items in good condition were sorted for charity resale or Beautiful Store donations.
3. Old or damaged clothes were sent for industrial fiber recycling — nothing went to waste.

It felt amazing to know that my clothes would be reused instead of polluting the planet.

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4. Bonus: You Can Even Get Reward Points

Some recycling centers in Korea offer eco-points or “Green Points” through the Daegu e-Clean app.
You can scan a QR code at the recycling bin and get small digital rewards for your contribution.
It’s not about the money — it’s about feeling part of a bigger movement for sustainable living.

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5. How to Find a Recycling Center Near You

If you live in Daegu (or anywhere in Korea), here’s how you can start:

1. Search for 자원순환 나눔터 (Resource Recycling Center) in Naver Maps or Kakao Maps.
2. Check opening hours (usually 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, closed on Sundays).
3. Bring clean, dry clothes in transparent bags.
4. Avoid donating wet, moldy, or heavily damaged items.

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6. Final Thoughts

Before this experience, I used to dump my old clothes in overflowing street bins.
Now, I know that small efforts — like visiting a recycling center — can make a huge difference.

So next time you’re about to throw away that old jacket, remember:
Someone else might need it, and the Earth definitely doesn’t need more waste.

Let’s keep Daegu (and the planet) clean, one shirt at a time.