Where to recycle bras?

purplecow1977

I'm doing a clearout and have come across quite a few bras that I don't wear/too small and am wondering what is the best way to recycle them?

Legs.Eleven

Good question! I think Charity shops take them if they're in decent nick. Or you could use them to make a pair of fly eyes.

kylith

You're probably best off putting them in a clothes bank as opposed to bringing them to a second hand shop. I've never seen underwear on sale in a second hand shop, and I'd imagine that they would refuse them. Would you wear someone else's bra? If you put them in a bank they could be shredded and the material used for something else.

purplecow1977

Oh I see that TK Maxx website (UK based) mentions bringing them to their store, don't know what they do with them, and I was just wondering if there was any place that collected them for charity or the likes. I remember watching a programme before about women in poor foreign countries needing bras and I thought that 2nd hand ones would be used in that instance?

clairefontaine

Bras have a lifespan of about 3 months.

It's underwear.

I can't imagine them being sold 2nd hand.

purplecow1977

I know that and I wouldn't want to wear 2nd hand underwear but I'm just mentioning the programme that I saw. So clothes bank is best choice?

miamee

clairefontaine wrote: »

Bras have a lifespan of about 3 months.

It's underwear.

I can't imagine them being sold 2nd hand.

With the price I pay for some bras, I certainly wouldn't be chucking them after 3 months! They do get worn out over time though.

PurpleCow, I have several that I bought but are barely used as they don't fit right/look right and would love to put them to good use also. I wonder would places like a women's refuge take them or something? If women were arriving with nothing or one bag of things, they might be in need.

Just had a look, it seems that they do it elsewhere, I haven;t spotted anything for Ireland yet though...in case you are interested:

Uplift Bras
Against Breast Cancer - Bra Recycling

miamee

Just found this - I'm going to find out if they are doing it this year as well, this is from 2 years ago

purplecow1977

Thank you miamee you have been a fantastic help! Women that have nothing might be well happy to get a 2nd hand bra - some of mine have never/rarely been worn!

I remember Curves doing this a few years ago alright, that's why I thought there would be somewhere in Ireland that would do it.

Legs.Eleven

clairefontaine wrote: »

Bras have a lifespan of about 3 months.

It's underwear.

I can't imagine them being sold 2nd hand.

3 months? Really? I'm wearing a bra right now that I bought before moving here 4 years ago. I spent 50 Euro on it and it's still in perfect nick. Good quality bras last longer than 3 months!

rainbow kirby

If any are in close to new condition, try the Braswap subreddit?

miamee

I know this thread is a bit old but I just spotted an article on The Journal about 2 Irish sisters doing a bra chain in aid of breast cancer research in memory of their mum. They've just had the 2015 one (unfortunately) but there are contact details at the end of the article if anyone wants to contribute to the 2016 one. They ask that people donate €2 per bra you give.

Article is here

Day Lewin

I found an English charity called Smalls for All which accepts "gently worn" bras. Haven't found an Irish equivalent yet but there may be one.
http://www.smallsforall.org/donate/
It seems that poor girls in rural African villages often cannot afford a bra; yet if they have one it improves their confidence and they are held in more respect.

ruskin

Ladies, if you want to get rid of your bras, I would gladly like to assist.:D

starling

I've seen bras for sale in charity shops. They were in good condition, and the likelihood is that they were donated by people who bought them, tried them on and found they didn't fit, and donated them (I know people who would rather donate less expensive items than bring them back to the shop). Sometimes a shop or even a manufacturer will donate stock they haven't sold to a charity.

Personally I wouldn't buy a second-hand bra, even in the unlikely event that I found my rare size, because yes, it's underwear, and no, you don't know whether it's been worn or by whom or for how long - but then again, I wouldn't buy second hand shoes either because that's also gross (the feet have more sweat glands per square inch than any other part of the body) yet all charity shops have second hand shoes. The fact is that any item of clothing you buy second-hand has been on someone else's body at some point, and everyone's body produces sweat. But the sad fact is that not everyone can afford to be picky.

If you can't find a dedicated bra recycling initiative, organisations like Oxfam that run charity shops will accept them and find a home for them - clothes that don't get sold in Oxfam shops are sent to developing countries and given to people in need there (this has been criticised for making it harder for local producers to sell clothes, but that's a whole other argument).

Narsil

This is a super UK charity who rescue animals in Afghanistan and donating bras helps them

http://www.nowzad.com/help-us/bras-for-nowzad/

Tabitharose

this is from last year, hopefully will be running again next month:

http://www.mariekeating.ie/oct-2014-bras-for-breast-cancer/

The Pheasant2

Can confirm Marie Keating are indeed collecting unwanted bras this month

dee_mc

Where are they being collected this year?
I think there was a collection bin at the Limerick branch of Harvey Norman last year (or maybe the year before) but up to date details would be great

The Pheasant2

http://www.mariekeating.ie/saybravo/

All details including drop off sites above

Kankan14

dee_mc wrote: »

Where are they being collected this year?
I think there was a collection bin at the Limerick branch of Harvey Norman last year (or maybe the year before) but up to date details would be great

Harvey norman in Limerick defo have a collection point, its there right now.

Stheno

Excellent timing, I've about twenty to recycle.

dee_mc

Stheno wrote: »

Excellent timing, I've about twenty to recycle.

Same as that. I usually pop them in a clothing bin but I like to support cancer charities so delighted to have the opportunity.