What happens to clothes when they end up in a landfill?

When clothing ends up in a landfill, its fate depends almost entirely on what it is made from. Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and acrylic are essentially plastics and can take 200 years or more to decompose. As they slowly break down, they release microplastics and potentially toxic chemicals from dyes and finishes into the surrounding soil and groundwater. An estimated 85% of all textiles produced globally end up in landfills or are incinerated each year, amounting to roughly one garbage truck full every second.

Even natural fibers do not decompose well in landfill conditions. Landfills are typically compacted and sealed, creating anaerobic environments with limited oxygen and sunlight. In these conditions, organic materials like cotton and wool decompose far more slowly than they would in a composting environment, and they produce methane, a greenhouse gas roughly 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Blended fabrics that combine natural and synthetic fibers are particularly problematic because neither component can be effectively recycled or composted.

This is why ONDU emphasizes both the quality and the material composition of the products we feature. Durable garments made from 100% natural fibers, like those from Reprise Activewear and Boldwill, are designed to last longer and, when they do eventually reach end of life, have a far better chance of breaking down safely if composted properly rather than languishing in a landfill for generations.