How to Recycle Wool Clothing & Blankets
Wool sweaters, coats, blankets, and accessories. Prioritize reuse and resale. Recycling and specialty brand programs exist; home composting of finished garments is rarely appropriate.
Quick answer
Donate clean, wearable wool to consignment or thrift first; it often has strong resale value. Dry, worn wool can go to textile bins. Do not compost whole garments by default (dyes, blends, treatments). Trash wet, moldy, or actively infested pieces.
- Recyclable
- Yes
- Typical value
- Quality wool garments often bring strong consignment prices; recycling grades are low per pound
- Donate / take-back
- Available
- 1Clean per care label (many wool items are dry-clean or gentle wash)
- 2Donate wearable pieces to consignment or thrift
- 3Leave buttons and zippers on for donation
- 4If moth-eaten but dry and free of active infestation risk, textile bins may take them; otherwise trash
- 5Check Smartwool Second Cut scope (often sock-focused / seasonal) before mailing
- Luxury consignment
- Patagonia trade-in (Patagonia brand)
- Thrift stores
- Textile recycling bins
Pure untreated wool scraps may be compostable only where local rules allow; finished garments with dyes, mothproofing, or blends should not be treated as default compost. Smartwool Second Cut is marketed under smartwool.com (en-us Second Cut pages); verify whether your item and season qualify. Patagonia trade-in is for Patagonia brand gear in eligible condition.
Reusing wool avoids new virgin fiber demand. Unverified claims such as '95% less water than virgin wool' for recycled wool should not be repeated without a named LCA. Most household wool still follows the same EPA textile pathways as other clothing.
- Professional reweaving or repair
- Felt craft from clean scraps
- Pet bedding if clean and dry
Accepted
- Wool sweaters and cardigans
- Wool coats and jackets
- Wool blankets and throws
- Wool scarves and accessories
- Wool socks (check Smartwool Second Cut if mailing)
- Wool blends accepted by thrift and most textile bins
Not Accepted
- Wet, mildewed, or moldy wool
- Actively moth-infested items that risk spreading
- Chemically contaminated wool
- Assuming whole garments are backyard compost
Estimated value: Quality wool garments often bring strong consignment prices; recycling grades are low per pound
Donation
- Luxury consignment shops
- Patagonia Worn Wear
- The RealReal
- Local boutique consignment
Manufacturer/Retail Take‑Back
Can I compost wool clothing?
Only consider pure, untreated wool scraps where your local compost rules allow it. Dyes, blends, linings, and moth treatments make whole garments a poor default compost candidate.
What about felted or shrunken wool?
Wearable or craft-usable pieces can still be donated or upcycled. Otherwise use a textile bin if clean and dry.
Does Smartwool take any wool brand?
Second Cut is a Smartwool program with its own scope (often socks / seasonal collections). Read the current page before shipping other brands.
Are wool-synthetic blends rejected?
Thrift stores and textile bins usually accept common blends. Specialty fiber recyclers may set higher wool percentages; consumer drop-off is more flexible.
- How to recycle Cotton Clothing & T-Shirts
- How to recycle Denim & Jeans
- How to recycle Athletic Shoes & Sneakers
- How to recycle Bed Linens & Towels
- How to recycle Synthetic Fabrics & Activewear
- How to recycle Formal Wear & Suits
- How to recycle Children's Clothing
- How to recycle Leather Goods & Accessories
- How to recycle Curtains & Drapes
Recycling centers that accept Wool Clothing & Blankets
RecycleFind lists recycling centers that accept wool clothing & blankets. Open a listing for hours, contact info, and directions.