31/10/2026
🌿♻️ WHERE DOES IT GO? | CLOTHES, SHOES & TEXTILES
Your guide to donating, reusing, repurposing and recycling across the Riverina!
Have you ever cleaned out your wardrobe and wondered what to do with all those clothes, shoes, handbags, towels, sheets and other textiles you no longer need?
Before putting them in the rubbish bin, STOP! There are so many ways to give these items a second life. 💚
From donating to local charities, passing items on to someone who needs them, helping our furry friends, selling pre-loved clothing or using specialist textile recycling programs, we can all play a part in keeping valuable resources out of landfill.
Here are some options to consider across Junee, Wagga Wagga and the wider Riverina.
👕 1. DONATE – SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITIES, COMMUNITIES & ANIMAL SHELTERS
If your clothing, shoes and household textiles are clean and in good condition, consider donating them to give someone or something else a second chance to use them.
💚 FOR PEOPLE & LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Your donations can help raise funds for important community services and give someone else the opportunity to purchase affordable clothing.
📍 JUNEE
• Vinnies – 85 Broadway Street.
• Annie’s Place Op Shop – 132 Broadway.
📍 WAGGA WAGGA
• Vinnies – 15 Peter Street.
• Salvos Stores – 180 Forsyth Street.
• Riding for the Disabled Opportunity Shop – 41–43 Baylis Street.
• Wagga Base Hospital Auxiliary Op Shop – 21 Baylis Street.
🐾 DON’T FORGET OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS!
Animal shelters and rescue organisations may also welcome donations of unwanted household textiles to help provide warmth, comfort and clean bedding for animals in their care.
Some useful items may include:
• Clean towels and face washers.
• Old sheets and pillowcases.
• Clean blankets and fleece throws.
• Suitable pet bedding.
• Pet toys, leads and collars.
• Unopened pet food and treats.
🐶 Some local organisations to contact include:
• Glenfield Road Animal Shelter – Wagga Wagga.
• Best Friends Pet Rescue.
• Riverina and District Animal Rescue (RADAR).
• SMART Animal Sanctuary – Batlow region.
Please contact each organisation first to check what they currently need and can accept.
💚 Sometimes something we no longer need can make a world of difference to an animal waiting for its forever home!
2. GIVE AWAY – HELP SOMEONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Not everyone can afford to buy new clothes, and sometimes the best thing we can do is pass something directly on to someone who needs it.
Consider:
• Local Facebook Buy Nothing groups.
• Junee and Wagga community Facebook groups.
• Facebook Marketplace – list items for FREE.
• Offering clothing bundles to families or individuals who may be doing it tough.
Children’s clothing, school uniforms, winter coats, shoes and everyday essentials can make a real difference to another household.
One person’s unwanted clothing could be exactly what another family needs!
🛍️ 3. SELL – GIVE PRE-LOVED CLOTHING A NEW HOME
Why not make a little extra money while helping the environment?
There are online platforms where you can sell clothing, shoes and accessories that are still in good condition.
Some options include:
• Vinted – an online marketplace for buying and selling pre-loved clothing, footwear and accessories.
• Facebook Marketplace – sell locally and arrange collection.
• Local community selling groups – connect with people in your own area.
Buying and selling second-hand helps extend the life of clothing and reduces the demand for new products.
🧵 4. REPURPOSE – GET CREATIVE!
Before throwing away old textiles, think about whether they could be turned into something useful.
Some ideas include:
• Old sheets and pillowcases turned into reusable shopping bags.
• Towels repurposed into cleaning cloths.
• Fabric scraps used for quilting, sewing and craft projects.
• Old clothing transformed into cushion covers or pet bedding.
• Suitable materials offered to local schools, sewing groups and community projects.
You could even organise a clothing or fabric swap with friends, family or your local community!
♻️ 5. RECYCLE – WHEN ITEMS ARE NO LONGER WEARABLE
What happens when clothing and textiles are too worn, damaged or unsuitable for donation?
There are now dedicated textile recycling options!
📍 GREGADOO WASTE MANAGEMENT CENTRE
132 Ashfords Road, Gregadoo.
Wagga Wagga City Council provides a textile recycling service where residents can drop off eligible clean, dry items, including:
• Clothing.
• Shoes.
• Towels and blankets.
• Linen and bedding.
• Belts and handbags.
There are also textile recycling collection points at the following rural transfer stations:
• Mangoplah.
• Collingullie.
• Currawarna.
• Galore.
• Humula.
• Tarcutta.
• Uranquinty.
Depending on their condition, collected textiles may be reused, repurposed into cleaning materials or processed into other products.
Check with Wagga Wagga City Council for accepted materials and opening hours before visiting.
📦 6. UPPAREL – MAIL-IN TEXTILE RECYCLING
For items that are difficult to donate or recycle locally, consider UPPAREL.
UPPAREL is an Australian textile recycling company that accepts a wide range of textiles, including:
• Clothing.
• Shoes.
• Socks.
• Towels and linen.
• Fabric scraps.
They offer paid mail-in collection boxes, allowing you to send unwanted textiles for sorting and recovery.
Visit: www.upparel.com.au
🛒 7. RETAILER TAKE-BACK PROGRAMS
Some retailers also offer textile collection and recovery programs.
A few worth looking into include:
• Sheridan – accepts washed sheets, quilt covers and towels of any brand through participating stores.
• H&M – has a garment collection program.
• Zara – has a clothing, footwear and accessories collection program at participating locations.
Check with individual retailers to confirm current program availability and accepted items, particularly in regional areas.
🌱 A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER
✔️ Make sure items are clean and dry.
✔️ Donate only clothing and shoes that are suitable for someone else to use.
✔️ Separate wearable items from damaged or unwearable textiles.
✔️ Check what each charity, animal shelter or organisation accepts before dropping items off.
✔️ Never leave unwanted donations outside closed shops or overflowing collection bins.
💚 WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
The clothing and textile industry uses valuable natural resources, energy and water. When we extend the life of clothing, share what we no longer need and recycle materials wherever possible, we help reduce waste and make better use of the resources already available to us.
And sustainability isn’t just about the environment. It’s also about supporting one another, helping families access affordable essentials, supporting animal welfare and strengthening our local communities.
💬 WE’D LOVE YOUR HELP!
Do you know of any other local op shops, charities, animal shelters, businesses, schools, community groups or organisations across Junee and the wider Riverina that accept clothing, shoes or textiles?
Have you discovered another great way to reuse or recycle unwanted items?
Share your suggestions in the comments! Let’s build a useful local resource that everyone can benefit from.
🌏 Together, let’s make a difference, one item at a time.
JUNEE REGENERATIVE LANDCARE
Thriving People, Thriving Planet. 💚
