This simple bag lets you make money by recycling your old stuff — here’s how it works and where to get one
In the quest to find innovative solutions to the global issue of waste, one startup is making strides with a colorful solution that not only helps you declutter but also rewards you in the process. Introducing the Take Back Bag by Trashie, a service launched last year that has since won the hearts of eco-conscious individuals and decluttering enthusiasts alike.
The concept is as straightforward as it is appealing: purchase a Take Back Bag for $20, fill it with your unwanted clothes, shoes, and textiles, send it back to Trashie, and receive $30 in rewards. This not only provides a financial incentive for recycling but also ensures that your old items do not end up adding to landfill waste.
Upon returning the bag, filled to the brim with items you wish to recycle, you’ll be granted $30 worth of “Trashie Cash.” This currency can be applied towards numerous enticing offers, including discounted movie tickets at AMC Theatres, savings on meal kits from HelloFresh, deals on shoes from Allbirds, among others. Trashie continually updates its rewards platform with new deals, advising users to check in regularly for the latest offers.
The Take Back Bag can accommodate a wide variety of items, from worn-out winter jackets and sweaters, to battered shoes, pillowcases, and even your quirky Halloween costumes—as long as the items are not excessively damaged or contaminated. Trashie’s CEO, Kristy Caylor, asserts that the objective is to keep these textiles out of landfills by ensuring that they are either reused globally or recycled into new products, such as pet bedding.
Items returned in the Take Back Bag are meticulously sorted into over 250 categories to optimize their reuse or recycling potential. Trashie’s efforts have led to approximately 90% of all items received being diverted from landfills, showcasing an efficient and impactful recycling model. With every Take Back Bag, up to 15 pounds of textile waste is prevented from contributing to landfill accumulation, equivalent to preventing over 150 pounds of CO2 emissions. This initiative is a response to the alarming statistic that roughly 85% of all textiles annually end up in landfills.
Trashie’s innovative approach offers a compelling incentive for individuals to participate in textile recycling, making it a win-win situation: not only do participants free up space in their homes and receive rewarding benefits, but they also contribute to a significant environmental cause. The Trashie Cash reward serves as a cherry on top, making the act of recycling even more gratifying.
The Take Back Bag initiative by Trashie represents a small, yet impactful step towards tackling the problem of textile waste. By providing an easy and rewarding way to recycle, Trashie is paving the way for more sustainable consumer habits and a cleaner planet.
