Don’t assume every item you donate to a thrift store will be saved from a landfill.
Dropping off a few donation bags at the thrift store can feel invigorating. You just got rid of a pile of clutter, and suddenly, all that junk is not your problem anymore. However, many donated items never actually make it onto the sales floor. At best, they create additional disposal costs for already overwhelmed nonprofit organizations, and at worst, they pose major safety risks.