A former Goodwill employee is speaking out about the nonprofit thrift retailer’s allegedly wasteful practices, claiming the company throws away available donations instead of giving them to those in need.
what happened?
One Reddit user shared their experience working at the retailer in the r/Goodwill subreddit, posting photos of an overcrowded and fire-damaged donation center.
Photo credit: Reddit
Photo credit: Reddit
“I’ll be seeing news about all this soon,” the poster wrote.
The former employee claimed that blankets, sheets and unsold clothing were dumped at key locations instead of being donated to community members. The company banned cameras in certain areas to prevent employees from witnessing disposals, according to former employees.
The former employee also said they received a verbal warning after providing tattered blankets to homeless people during a winter storm — which managers told them was against company policy.
One commenter responded: “Thank you for speaking out and speaking your truth. Not many people can do that.”
Why is textile waste worthy of concern?
Textile waste creates serious environmental problems. Americans throw away more than 11 million tons of textiles every year, most of which end up in landfills, where they release a polluting gas called methane as they break down.
Throwing away functional blankets and clothing means more resources need to be extracted to manufacture replacements. Vulnerable community members lack access to basic necessities such as heating in the winter.
This alleged practice contradicts the circular economy model that thrift stores support. Reusing existing items keeps them out of landfills and reduces the need for new products.
Is Goodwill doing anything about this?
Goodwill has not publicly responded to the allegations. Items not suitable for retail are recycled or sold to textile recyclers, the company said.
Different Goodwill locations operate semi-independently within regional organizations, meaning policies may vary from region to region. Some charity affiliates work with shelters and community organizations to run donation programs for unsold items.
The poster’s statement suggests this may be a local issue rather than a company-wide policy. Without confirmation from Goodwill leadership or independent verification, it’s unclear how widespread these alleged practices may be.
What measures are being taken against textile waste more broadly?
Some organizations divert available donations away from landfills. The National Council of Textile Organizations connects donation centers with recycling facilities that process fabrics into insulation, cleaning cloths and new textiles.
Some thrift stores have begun partnering with homeless shelters and disaster relief organizations. These programs send unsold seasonal items to where they are needed most.
You can help reduce textile waste by researching local donation centers before dropping off your items. Call ahead and ask about their reallocation policy for unsold merchandise.
Look for “free shops” or mutual aid networks in your community. These grassroots organizations give away clothes and household items without selling them first.
Buy secondhand whenever possible. Every item saved means one less new product needs to be produced.
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