Let’s be honest: we don’t often talk about the end of life of our underwear and socks. Yet the question “where to throw away old underwear” deserves to be asked. Every year, millions of worn-out pieces disappear into the trash without us wondering for a second what becomes of them. The result: a textile mountain growing before our eyes, even though solutions exist.
Because no, a torn boxer is not doomed to be incinerated right away. Between sorting, recycling, DIY at home and choosing brands that focus on durability, there are plenty of ways to say goodbye to your underwear with a bit more style… and far less damage to the planet.
Why ask the question: where to throw away old underwear?
At first glance, the question may seem silly: wouldn’t your torn briefs or stretched-out boxers just deserve the trash? Well, not so fast. Underwear has a somewhat special status in the great textile cycle. Between rapid wear, elastane that doesn’t recycle well, and hygiene issues, they are not treated like an old pair of jeans or a worn-out shirt.
Beyond simply wanting to make space in your drawer, asking yourself where to throw away old underwear is a small habit that has a big impact on the environment. Textiles are one of the most polluting sectors on the planet, and the millions of briefs and socks thrown away each year don’t disappear like magic. In 2023, only 10% of clothes thrown away in France were recycled, according to Refashion. The rest? Two-thirds ended up directly in household waste, incinerated without a second thought. Needless to say, there’s still a long way to go.
What to do with your old underwear?
The trash: the false good idea
Let’s be honest: most people take the easy route. A torn pair of boxers? Straight into the trash. In Europe as in the United States, nearly 85% of household textiles are thrown away without being recycled. But this simple gesture is anything but smart. Once incinerated or buried, your loyal boxer just adds to the already colossal mountain of waste.
Textile sorting (collection bins, Emmaus, etc.)
Good news: some textile collection bins do accept your underwear, provided they are clean, completely dry, and packed in a sealed plastic bag. Items that are too damaged will not be resold in second-hand shops, but they can be used to:
- create padding for seats,
- become industrial rags,
- be transformed into insulation.
For example, Emmaus, a major player in handling used clothing in France, reported keeping an average of 2 out of 10 garments for resale, with the rest going to donations, reuse, recycling, or ultimately incineration.
Giving a second life or recycling yourself
And before you even ask yourself where to throw away old underwear, it’s worth knowing that they can still be useful. Even a torn boxer or lonely socks can become cleaning rags for dusting, washing windows, or polishing shoes, or be cut up to steady a wobbly piece of furniture. The elastic bands, meanwhile, can be reused to secure a bag or tie cables.
Beyond DIY at home, some collective initiatives transform worn-out textiles into new products. Associations and start-ups collect damaged underwear to make insulation, industrial cloths, or even recycled fibers used to manufacture new textiles. Upcycling thus gives a real second life to your clothes, far from the trash and incineration.
Practical tips to limit textile waste from the start
In the end, isn’t the best answer to “where to throw away old underwear” simply to postpone that moment as much as possible? In other words: if your boxers last longer, you throw away fewer of them. And that makes more of a difference than you think.
Because no, everything we’ve mentioned so far — textile sorting, bins, in-store collections, upcycling — is not a miracle solution. Underwear recycling remains very partial. Many pieces cannot be processed industrially due to fiber blends, elastics, or small parts (lace, buttons, seams). Even when you follow all the rules, only a fraction of textiles is truly reused. The rest often ends up incinerated or in landfills.
In other words: relying solely on recycling to “save the planet” with your underwear is an illusion. The real effectiveness comes from solid, durable, and well-maintained underwear — and that’s exactly where brands like Bluebuck make the difference.
Prioritize quality and durability
Europeans throw away 4 million tons of clothing each year! And a significant portion ends up in landfills. Yet much of this volume could be avoided if we consumed better.
Take underwear, for example: buying a pack of 5 cheap boxers means accepting that after just a few months, they’ll lose shape, tear, or lose elasticity. The result: straight to the trash. On the other hand, a well-made quality boxer can last two to three times longer. Fewer replacements, less spending, and above all, less waste.
This is exactly Bluebuck’s philosophy: designing solid, durable underwear, made to last as long as possible. The collections are timeless, never discounted, to encourage thoughtful consumption rather than impulsive purchases. By choosing Bluebuck boxers or briefs, you avoid chasing after fast-changing trends: you invest in a stable piece that withstands time and washing. And the longer your underwear lasts, the less you have to wonder where to throw away old underwear.
Choose ecological materials
Not all fibers are equal. That’s why some brands like Bluebuck rely on GOTS-certified organic cotton, grown without chemical pesticides and with reduced water consumption. Bluebuck goes even further: the brand manufactures all its underwear in Europe using renewable electricity, and incorporates recycled fibers (even down to the labels). In other words, buying a Bluebuck boxer is not just investing in a durable piece, it’s also reducing the ecological footprint of your wardrobe.
Other alternatives are worth considering: Tencel, made from wood pulp, known for its softness and strength, or recycled fibers, which avoid producing new raw materials. These fabric choices directly influence the lifespan of the garment and its end of life.
Take care of your underwear
A good product poorly maintained won’t last long. Washing your underwear at 30°C instead of 60°C not only preserves the fibers but also saves energy (up to 60% less on your electricity bill). Avoiding the dryer is also a winning habit: it damages elastics and shortens the life of fabrics. In short, to delay the moment when you once again wonder where to throw away old underwear, just a few habits are enough:
- opt for air drying,
- use mild detergent and avoid fabric softener,
- don’t twist textiles excessively after washing.
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Ultimately, asking where to throw away old underwear means changing the way we look at a small piece of fabric that too often ends up forgotten. Between collection bins, recycling programs, or DIY at home, there’s no shortage of solutions. And if you choose your future boxers more wisely, you’ll delay that awkward moment when you have to say goodbye to them.