Unsettling photos on Reddit are sparking conversation about the hidden underbelly of America's fashion obsession. The post, shared in the r/GoodwillBins subreddit, shows a warehouse stacked with floor-to-ceiling mounds of discarded clothing.
The original poster titled the thread: "Not a goodwill bin, something much scarier." The images quickly drew reactions from users, with the towering heaps resembling textile sorting centers for bulk-donated clothing.
Many commenters zeroed in on what it reveals about our consumer habits.
One user shared: "My sister told me earlier today that we have enough clothes on the planet for the next six generations, assuming we didn't make anything new starting today. That is absolutely obscene."
The post caught attention because it demonstrates how recent years have seen an explosion of textile waste created by fast-changing fashion cycles and overproduction.
According to Green America, millions of tons of clothing move through donation networks each year — but not all of it finds a second life. What can't be sold often ends up in sorting facilities, exported overseas (which can be problematic on its own), or worse, piling up in landfills.
Our waste issue has pushed more people and organizations to confront how quickly clothing moves from stores to the waste stream. Many people are deciding to break up with fast fashion to stop contributing to the demand for cheaply made clothes meant only to last a few wears.
Shopping in thrift stores is a great way to find clothing and everyday items while also helping to prevent waste and reduce pollution.
Some Reddit users were concerned by the implication of the images.
One commenter wrote: "I volunteered a day at a charity thrift shop and was in shock when I went into the warehouse. Piles of clothes everywhere. Stacked nearly to the ceiling. You couldn't even get to the back wall."
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Heck yes 👍 Another perfectly described the scene: "We are literally drowning in textiles."
A third user added a simple takeaway: "Resellers are still an issue, but another part of the problem is that with fast fashion, the stuff people are donating is lower quality. Plus, some thrift stores have started charging more so it kinda turns into 'do I buy this shirt here for $10 when it has a hole in the seam, or do I go buy a brand new $10 shirt somewhere else?'"
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