Recycling Gains Supportive Twist When Old Bras Are Donated For A Good Cause

There are many things that I can think of recycling -- crazy miniscule little bits and pieces -- but once my bras reach the point of no return with elastic that is creaking rather than stretching, I normally just throw them in the garbage.

I mean, who's going to want to reuse underwear that no longer has its formerly glorious supportive capabilities?

Well, it turns out that Wacoal -- maker of supportive undergarments since 1949 -- distributed hundreds of recycling collection bags in its Japanese retail stores this past spring and ended up receiving 3.59 tons of seen-better-days bras (equivalent to approximately 35,900 pieces) in return.

Culturally speaking, Japanese women have long been somewhat shy about allowing their undergarments to see the light of day, so it is really impressive that so many ladies participated in Wacoal's program, which intends to process the garments into a form of solid fuel.

There are other programs right in the states that are intent on recycling bras, and one that is the most notable is the Bosom Buddy Recycling Program which encourages ladies to donate bras (that they no longer fit into or use) to women who are in transitional housing facilities or shelters.

Great Britain has been one of the forerunners of bra recycling, focusing on how they can help women in developing countries with such programs such as BreastTalk.co.uk (Bra Appeal), Oxfam's Wastesaver and countrywide pink Bra Bank collection bins which raise cash for various charities.

Do you know of any other bra recycling programs that Greenwala community members can participate in?