A big plastic box, a clothing rack on wheels, a heap of bags filled with clothes — Smith’s free bins come in many shapes and sizes. As the name suggests, each “bin” is a repository of discarded clothes and objects that are free for students to take. From sweaters to mugs to artwork, the free bins — located in every house — are a great way for students to expand their wardrobes and decorate their rooms without breaking their wallets.
Beyond helping students save money, the free bins also perform an important environmental role: diverting clothing and other waste from landfills. According to Boston University, people in the United States throw away over 34 billion pounds of fabric every year, which amounts to more than a hundred pounds of textile per person. Much of this fabric is made from synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon and acrylic, which are types of plastics that can take up to a thousand years to biodegrade. If that’s hard to imagine, think about it like this: a polyester shirt you threw away yesterday will be lying in a landfill until the year 3024.
Not only are these materials hard to dispose of, but they are also costly to produce. Making clothing is energy-intensive and produces an immense amount of air and water pollution. The fashion industry is the second most polluting business, surpassed only by the oil industry. The environmental consequences are so severe that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies textile manufacturing facilities as hazardous waste generators. However, by using the free bins instead of buying from stores, Smith students can choose to opt out of this system. Our old clothes don’t go to waste, and we get new-to-us clothing without adding to the demand for fabric manufacturing.
The free bins have many other benefits as well — many of which I learned through conversations with students. One student I talked to said she likes the free bins because they allow her to experiment with her style — to be daring and try new things, without investing in something she might not like. Another said that they liked finding gifts and clothes for other people, something they were usually hesitant to spend a lot of money on because “it’s so hard to know other people’s styles.” The sentiment I heard most often, however, was a sense of general happiness with, and gratitude for, the free bins. Many feel like they are an invaluable resource and a way to make different kinds of fashion more accessible at Smith.
Through these conversations, I also got to hear about students’ best free bin finds. Lots of people described finding practically new items like clothes with the tags still on or sweatpants that were still perfectly fluffy inside. I heard about jeans from L.L. Bean, a coat from Patagonia, overalls from Dickies, a dress with a retail value of $365 and every kind of jacket, from leather to denim to faux fur. One student even told me about getting shoes that fit perfectly — a miracle even in retail stores. The list doesn’t stop at clothes and apparel though; people also found china teacups, rugs, clothes hangers, mugs, shower caddies and an unopened pack of screen protectors. And, of course, there was the occasional unusual and unique find, like a Tamagotchi, a painting of a carrot or a hairbrush that cleverly doubled as a flask.
As I heard about these great finds and experiences, I gained an even deeper appreciation for the free bins. It’s not often that sustainable and financially beneficial choices are so broadly loved and appreciated, and I think that the success of the free bins is something we Smithies should be proud of.
