Dumping clothing in Europe

Ellen, I certainly agree! I normally try to pack only what I need, and don't "dump" clothes when I'm travelling. Most of my travel clothing is better quality, so not something I want to get rid of!

I normally donate used clothing items at home to the local "Renew Crew".

If you simply can't take it with you: In France I have come accorss Red-Cross donation boxes in the middle of towns, for clothes. It is a good spot. Also check with your hotel, they will probably know of a place to donate locally as well.

I just really can't imagine doing this. I'm not big on the whole "wearing what the locals do," and spending hundreds of dollars on a new wardrobe for travel, but if it's not something I'd wear out and about here, I wouldn't wear it in Europe either. And if it's in such poor condition that it needs to be thrown away (which is sometimes the case with stuff i've worn to death), I'd rather just throw it away or cut it up and use it as rags around my place.

As an aside for those of us not up to speed, what's going on in Naples? :(

Naples closed one of their municipal dumps, and the garbage as gone uncollected for two weeks. For more information look at this link: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/01/07/naples.rubbish.ap/index.html?eref=edition

I couldn't agree more about NOT dumping one's old clothes in Europe. They are much more environmentally conscious than we are in Minnesota. The family I stayed with in Germany accumulated a minimal amount of garbage compared to my family here. I felt guilty about emptying out my purse and car at their house.

I agree on not dumping clothes but I like the idea of packing one less outfit and planning to shop for the extra change of clothes as a souvenir.

My wife and I were at dinner Saturday and she remarked that she really liked the wool sweater she was wearing. She has very sensitive skin and normally won't wear wool without a layer beneath it.

We purchased the sweater at a nice women's clothing boutique in Verona about two years ago. The style, color and material were perfect and it was on sale for less than we would have paid here.

I am amazed that people would actually consider throwing out their clothes on a vacation! I don't know about everyone else but I like to look nice on my vacation and I take clothes that I like and want to wear again at home as well. I can't imagine taking my ripped up jeans and t-shirts on a vacation. I may throw away the shampoo, conditioner or toothpaste that is almost gone but never clothes. It just seems so, I don't know wasteful.

Just pack a tote that you can fold or roll up and stick in a corner of your suitcase, when you are ready to go home pack up your purchases in the tote. You are going home, one extra bag isn't a big deal.

When I go to Europe I want to look my best so I bring nice clothes. I wouldn't dream of wearing something that is in bad enough shape to throw away, and this includes underwear, which lots of people seem to think is OK to throw out also. America and the world needs to get out of the mindset that everything is disposable and the world is one big dumping ground.

Ok, I don't throw out old clothes, specifically underwear, in Europe because mine is in good shape, specifically picked out for wash- and dryability. It's too valuable to throw out. I also come back with only two sets (in addition to what I wear, so throwing it out wouldn't give me much more space.

But what is wrong with those who do dispose of their old underwear in Europe. What do the Europeans do? Do they throw out their old clothes over there? Maybe they all make a special trip once a year to the north pole (or No. America), since throwing them out in Europe is wrong.

People who take their old clothes to Europe and dispose of them there are lazy and stupid, but they are not doing anything wrong.

I can tell this is a passionate discussion so I will add my thoughts as well. I have not "donated" my clothing in Europe, but did in Tanzania. It was a preplanned effort with our whole group of 18. We were aware, and made arrangements to leave some much needed clothing and shoe items for hotel employees and townspeople. Shoes, pants, toiletries (some considered luxuries - like nail polish). We actually had to leave a note stating which items we were leaving behind and gave our permission to donate them appropriately.
I do believe in packing light. I also believe, if I needed room for something that I did not want to ship back, I would remove items that I could live without. I would not "dump" them, I would ensure they went to a fitting charity. This is just an extension of charity that I extend when I am traveling. I donate to children's funds, animal shelters, bring school supplies, etc. all over the world. It feels good.

When I travel to Europe I routinely take socks and underwear that are on their "last legs" and throw them out as I travel. I don't do it make more room for souvenirs in my pack, I do it to lighten my bag as I travel. I don't really see what the big deal is. I'm sure there are a few Europeans that travel to the US and do the same thing; so in the end it just balances out. If some are this concerned about the environment, why don't they get on other travelers cases that ask questions about renting cars; aren't they contributing to the greenhouse gas problem? Or how about none of us travel to Europe at all? After all, air travel is also ruining the atmosphere. In the grand scheme of things, throwing out ones old, smelly, thread-bear undergarments while on the road is very inconsequential. Does anyone seriously believe the garbage dumps of Naples are being closed because tourists are throwing away their wardrobes every time they visit the city? Based on what I read in the CNN article its more of a local NIMBY problem.

The garbage problem in Naples has nothing to do with tourist throwing anything out. It has to do with the Mafia controlling some things.

Here in British Columbia we have a recycle day, one day a week you put your papers, tins, glass etc. out curb side for pick up. They do not have that in most places in Europe so of course the landfills are getting full, and garbage pick up is EXPENSIVE so people try to be careful, but, without embracing the whole cycle of" reduce, reuse and recycle" the garbage problem will hit everyone hard.
AT least cotton underpants are biodegradable.

What's the difference between throwing out clothes in Europe or here in the US? Doesn't it all affect the same atmosphere? I don't understand this thread at all.

Is this directed to the 0.003% of travellers that would rather wear dirty, smelly clothes on vacation over their favorite clothes?

The problem isn't with people who throw away a few well-used and beyond-repair socks (whether at home or while traveling), but with those who throw away perfectly functional things simply b/c they have overbought while on vacation and haven't enough room in their suitcases, and can't be troubled to either donate or mail home their old stuff.

Right, we all throw out clothing and lots of other items both at home and abroad. My comment above, may have been unclear, but I was against making this a policy as a way to lighten up your suitcase -- presumably to make room for new stuff. My first reason is because we would all look like hobos wearing old clothes in Europe. And then, as a policy of disposing as we go, it just seems a self-indulgent (and sorry to say kind of lazy) travel policy to promote. Surely we have better ideas.

Michael,

You make me laugh. How much room your underware take in your luggage?
I don't believe throwing them away will give you a lot of room for your souvenirs..There are otehr thing you can leave home and have some room in you bag before you travel.

This whole idea seems a little silly to me. Why travel in old clothes that are ready to be thrown? I like to feel I look my best when traveling. If you plan to shop, bring along a little folded up bag for the extras you buy. These cases take minimal room. I've read articles where they tell you to take old underwear & throw it after wearing. Underwear is something I pack in the odd nooks & crannies left from packing outerwear. It takes no extra room & weighs nothing.

Wow, great discussion. I can completely see both sides. With the weight restrictions that are being put on air travelers within Europe, I can certainly see wearing and throwing out old clothing to lighten the load especially as souvenirs are added. But on the other hand it seems like a bad consumeristic attitude to throw something out just because you don't want to lug it around anymore. Interesting.

For those people who are crying a tear for Naples, they need to visit Niagara Falls sometime. As you drive into the center of town you'll see enormous hills all around you. Those are piles of garbage from all over New York State that end up in Niagara Falls. The only thing that's left there of any beauty is the falls itself, and those can only FULLY be appreciated from the Canadian side.

Why did I say "lazy and stupid". It has nothing to do with environmentalism or political correctness, only common sense. I try to pack as light as possible (on my last trip I took along a disposable safety razor to save the weight of my 1# electic). Before my last trip to Europe, I bought 3 sets of underwear that were low cotton, mostly synthetic, fast drying. I wore one and took only two to more in my suitcase. I washed one set every night and by morning it was dry. I could have done with two sets (one worn), or even one set, except I liked to wash my used underwear as soon as I checked in and then go out for the evening with another set while the first set was drying.

So, if you are not too lazy, keep the weight down by washing every night. And, if you are not too stupid, don't carry a lot of things you don't really need.

BTW, last trip I had eight shirts. Next trip I plan to find lo-cotton, spandex tee shirts and wash them too, so I only have to carry one or two.

I travel very light. All I typically bring with me is three t-shirts, two pairs of pants, sweatshirt, and a rain poncho- that's it. So I have plenty of room for those old pairs of underwear and socks in my "Rick" bag. I've tried using the quick dry variety of socks but I find the fabric uncomfortable, and they tend to acquire a permanent smell over time. Although underwear is very easy to wash in the hotel's bathroom sink, the Hanes type of cotton socks I wear are a nightmare to dry while on the road so I save my old socks for my travels and throw them out as I go along. It's system that work very well for me and I make no apologies for it. For those who are "environmentally sensitive", the detergent I would otherwise use to wash socks and underwear does not wind up in Europe waterways; so there you go.

Yep, only take the threadbare and then discard. Besides getting the last use of those items, I do save room for the return trip. Besides, I figure I need to get something out of that 17% VAT, especially given the current exchange rate!

you don't have to throw things in the trash. I leave some things that are in good shape with a note on them for the housekeeping staff "please give this to someone who can use it" and have found it is appreciated.

Good idea Chere.

Well, if they really need room in their suitcase either A. Pack a soft bag to check in on your return. Or B. Wear what's on your back and just buy as you go along.

I find the idea of going with old clothes (the type we would donate here) to be in poor taste to be honest.

I too like to look good when I travel both at home and abroad. If one needs pace to bring back stuff, pack less!

While I may not buy an entire wardrobe to take with me to Europe, I do take the clothes that I would wear "out" to places like restaurants, churches, museums etc.

To each his own though. I'd rather have less and look good, than take tattered-on-its-last-leg clothing across the pond.

Wow, such passion. I always dump clothes on the way home. Usually because I buy brand new ones. ususally 2 pairs of slacks and 4 tee shirts and a sweater at "Landsend" and wear the hell out of them for anywhere from 6 weeks to the one year that I have spent in Europe. I always inform the from desk, bag them nicely and set them aside next to the waste basket. I cannot imagine that this has been offensive. The room I gain in my one Rick Steves suit case usually means I can take home all the books and imformation I have collected on my travels. The whole thing going on in Naples Italy is much more complex than tourists "dumping" their clothes. It is a protest against the government for "dumping" hazardous waste which has seeped into the farm lands between Naples and the Sorrento penisula.