Is your wardrobe full of clothes and accessories you no longer wear? Are you looking to declutter your wardrobe so that you only keep the essentials and thus adopt a practical capsule wardrobe ? You are not alone.
We have already shared some sustainable tips for getting rid of your worn clothes, but today, we are focusing on the collection points in Marseille, whether your clothes are still in good condition or damaged!
Why and how to sort?
*In Europe, it is estimated that 70% of the clothes in our wardrobes are never worn. Every year, the average French person buys 9 kg of clothes, but only gives away 3 kg. As a result: nearly 4 million tonnes of textile waste are thrown away every year.
*Furthermore, since January 1, 2025, it has been forbidden to throw textiles, shoes and household linen with household waste in France. This measure aims to encourage recycling and reuse, as part of the ecological transition and the fight against waste.
The 3-pile method: sorting your clothes effectively
To sort your wardrobe simply and effectively, the 3-pile method is ideal. It consists of dividing your clothes into three categories: to keep, to give away/recycle, and to throw away (as a last resort).
- The keep pile includes the clothes you wear regularly, are in good condition, and suit your style or the season.
- The give away/recycle pile includes clothes that are still usable but that you no longer wear, which you can take to a collection bin or give to a charity.
- Finally, the throw away pile should only include items that are too damaged to be repaired or recycled. Marseille recycling centers accept used textiles, but make sure to bring them in sealed bags to make sorting easier.
Meanwhile Boutique collects your clothes
In Marseille, the ideal place to drop off a damaged item is at the Intercontinental, while the perfect place to give away your clothes is at Meanwhile Boutique.
The collection point accessible in the 10th arrondissement
At Meanwhile Boutique, we believe that every garment deserves a second chance. With this in mind, every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in our boutique in Marseille, we organize a donation collection open to everyone.
⚠️ Donation collection ON HOLD - resuming in 2027 ⚠️
As the boutique is located in a shopping center, a free parking lot is available in front of the store, as well as shopping carts to make it easy to bring your clothes!
So instead of throwing away your worn or simply unwanted clothes, you can stop by our boutique to drop them off directly, and take the opportunity to discover our collection.
We then sort your donated clothes: some will join our solidarity thrift store, with a percentage given to a charity, others will be sent to charities such as On se les gèle dehors and Maison des Femmes, while some will go to brands or local fashion schools for upcycling.
Practical information:
📍 Address:
Aushopping St Loup Shopping Center
57 Boulevard Romain Rolland
13010 Marseille
(1st floor, near Fitness Park).
🚘 Free parking
🚏 Bus: Lines 15, 15S and 91 (Lycée Ampère stop).
Donation collection on Tuesdays only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (currently on hold)
Textile collection containers
The Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis provides textile collection containers in many municipalities, including Marseille.
These bins allow you to drop off your clothes, household linen, and shoes, even if they are worn or damaged, provided they are clean and dry. To locate the nearest container, you can consult the official Metropolis website.
Some addresses:
- 15 Rue Haxo, 13001 Marseille, 1st arrondissement
- 14 Avenue du Prado, 13006 Marseille, 6th arrondissement
- 3 Bd Barry, 13013 Marseille, 13th arrondissement
- 540 Chemin de la Madrague Ville, 13015 Marseille, 15th arrondissement
Solidarity boutiques and charities for giving away your clothes
When it comes to giving away clothes, charities are often the first option that comes to mind. These organizations redistribute them to people in need or sell them at low prices, thus supporting social solidarity and the solidarity economy while extending the life of the clothes.
French Red Cross: recognized for clothing donations
The Red Cross has more than 2,300 collection points across France, including several in Marseille. You can drop off your donations at their vestiboutiques or solidarity boutiques.
Some addresses:
- 137 Rue du Camas, 13005 Marseille
- 90 Boulevard Baille, 13005 Marseille
- 20 Rue du Docteur Escat, 13006 Marseille
Frip'Insertion: an association that collects your clothes
The Frip’Insertion association collects your clothes from Monday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m..
Donations are sorted and valued: items in good condition are resold in their boutiques, while others are recycled or upcycled in their Regain workshop.
This initiative, created by Emmaüs Marseille in 1999, is an integral part of the Emmaüs movement, while also being a specific organization with its own mission focused on professional integration through textile collection. Every year, around forty employees on integration pathways are supported and trained, working in collection activities, the sorting workshop, and the boutiques.
Some addresses:
- 137 Boulevard de la Libération, 13001 Marseille
- 58 Boulevard National, 13001 Marseille
Provence TLC: collection, sorting, and recycling throughout the region
*TLC = Textiles, Household Linen, and Shoes
This integration company created in 2013 specializes in collection via drop-off points, the sorting and recycling of used TLC. It covers the entire PACA region (including Marseille), and you can locate the collection points via their website.
In addition to contributing to the circular economy, Provence TLC promotes local employment by offering positions to people on integration pathways. Since 2022, it has been certified RSEI (Social Responsibility of Integration Companies), recognizing its commitment to a responsible and inclusive approach.
Some addresses:
- 7 Avenue de Saint Menet -13011 Marseille
- Chemin du Roy d'Espagne - 13009 Marseille
- 81 chemin de Gibbes - 13014 Marseille
Recyclerie Sportive Marseille Bougainville: to give away your sportswear
Attention sports enthusiasts! If you want to give away sports equipment, the Recyclerie Sportive Marseille Bougainville collects clothes and sports equipment to give them a second life. All donations received are carefully sorted, restored if necessary, and then offered at low prices in their solidarity boutique.
Recyclerie Sportive Marseille Bougainville is:
- 16 tonnes of sports equipment collected
- 8,500 items redistributed at solidarity prices
- 4,000 children and adults benefiting
- An excellent solution to give a second life to your old sports equipment instead of throwing it away!
The address:
- 29 Bd de Briançon - 13003, Marseille
Locate a collection point near you
To drop off your clothes in the right place, several online tools allow you to easily locate the collection point closest to you. In just a few clicks, you will know where to give your clothes a second life while doing a solidarity gesture.
Refashion: the ideal tool to learn everything about clothing collection
Refashion is the state-approved eco-organization for the clothing, household linen, and footwear sector in France. Since 2008, it has been applying the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), supporting brands, local authorities, and citizens in managing the end-of-life of textiles.
Key figures:
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47,000 collection points approved by Refashion
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188,000 tonnes of textiles and shoes are sorted every year.
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60% of the sorted products are reusable and resold in thrift stores or solidarity boutiques in France, Europe, or internationally.
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The remaining 40% that are not reusable are recycled (into insulation, rags, or new textile fibers), or converted into energy (8%).
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Only 0.15% of the non-recoverable products are incinerated.
Where to Recycle: 186 collection points in Marseille
The Où Recycler website makes it easy to locate collection points for textile recycling in Marseille, with 186 collection points listed in the city. For each point, detailed information is provided, such as the address and opening hours. Thanks to the interactive map, you can quickly identify the collection point closest to you.
Giving away your clothes in Marseille: You have everything you need!
In summary, there are many solutions in Marseille to give your clothes a new life, whether they are still in good condition or worn. Thanks to these initiatives, you are not only contributing to the reduction of textile waste,, but you are also supporting solidarity projects that promote professional integration and the circular economy.
So, don't wait any longer! Be part of the solution and give your clothes a second life! However, if you're not yet ready to give away your clothes, but would still like to give them a second life by personalizing them, come to Meanwhile Boutique to enhance them in one of our repair and custom-made creation workshops!
Discover the ethical workshops in Marseille
*Sources:
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