Kathy Broussard reveals a substantial heap of used textiles crammed into plastic bags at her store, representing a significant portion of recent donations. Additionally, the store’s basement and two extra-large donation bins outside are consistently filling up with items.
Broussard describes the continuous influx of donations as a never-ending cycle that her staff and volunteers tirelessly manage. They sort through the bags, sell what they can, and offer unsold items for free in bins for a limited time before disposing of them.
As the executive director of Hand in Hand, a non-profit thrift store in Halifax, Broussard expresses concerns about the escalating volume of clothing ending up in landfills due to the lack of outlets for surplus stock. Many charity thrift stores nationwide are encountering similar challenges with disposing of unsold inventory.
Charlotte Genge, a textile circularity consultant, points out the growing difficulty faced by charity thrift stores in finding avenues to offload excess stock. She emphasizes the environmental impact and financial burden of disposing of unsold items, suggesting that the situation could worsen in the future.
The National Diabetes Trust, a program supporting Diabetes Canada through clothing donations, has temporarily halted pickups from thrift stores in several provinces due to changing market conditions affecting inventory levels and processing capacity.
Value Village, a common buyer for non-profit collectors, has shifted its approach to acquiring goods, focusing more on collecting donations directly at its stores on behalf of non-profits. This shift has impacted the traditional model where Value Village purchased bulk items from non-profit partners.
Steven Bethell, co-founder of Bank & Vogue, a major exporter of used clothing in Canada, highlights the challenges faced by the industry, such as rising costs of collecting and exporting second-hand clothes. He anticipates the market will stabilize over time, leading to adaptations by thrift stores.
Genge stresses the need for government intervention to address the overconsumption of new clothing in Canada, advocating for policies like extended producer responsibility and enforced use of recycled content to promote sustainable waste management practices.
In conclusion, industry experts and thrift store operators agree that urgent action is needed to address the mounting surplus of donated clothing and its environmental impact. They call for a shift towards sustainable practices and government support to tackle the growing challenges faced by the thrift industry.