WELL, WE KNOW THIS.
AMERICANS LOVE GETTING NEW
STUFF, ESPECIALLY CLOTHES.
THE U.S. GENERATES AROUND 25
BILLION POUNDS OF BRAND-NEW
CLOTHES, ACCESSORIES, AND SHOES
EVERY YEAR.
AND IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG FOR
A LOT OF THAT TO END UP IN DEB'S
BASEMENT AND AT A THRIFT STORE.
THE SALVATION ARMY IN BALTIMORE
ESTIMATES THEY GET ABOUT 75,000
PIECES OF CLOTHES IN THEIR
WAREHOUSE EVERY WEEK.
SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
HERE'S 11 NEWS REPORTER MEGAN
PRINGLE.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SWEATER
YOU BUT YOUR SISTER -- YOU
BOUGHT YOUR SISTER IS IN THIS
BIN, OR THOSE USED GENES ARE IN
THAT PILE.
THIS IS THE SALVATION ARMY
DONATION CENTER.
THE ITEMS ARE LOADED OFF THE
TRUCK.
THEY ARE PUT IN BINS
AND SORTED
OUT.
EVERY DAY OUT THOUSAND PIECES OF
CLOTHES ARE MOVED IN AND OUT TO
STORES.
WE GET SUCH LARGE AMOUNTS OF
CLOSE, IT PILES UP QUICKLY.
WE LIVE WAY ABOVE ARE MEANS AND
WASTE GOES ON.
BUT WE WILL TAKE THE WASTE AND
MAKE SOMETHING GOOD OUT OF IT.
HE SORTS THROUGH THE CLOTHES
HERE.
THE MONEY MADE WILL HELP PAY FOR
A PROGRAM THAT KEEPS HIM AND THE
OTHER 80 MINUTE HERE SOBER.
IT IS CALLED ADULT
REHABILITATION CENTER OR
ARC, A
REHAB FACILITY THAT PUTS MEN
LIKE HIM ON THE RIGHT PATH.
THEY ARE DOING WHATEVER THEY
DO ALL THEIR LIVES.
THIS IS TEACHING THEM TO GET UP
EARLY IN THE MORNING, GO TO YOUR
JOB, BE RESPONSIBLE.
IT IS GOOD FOR THEM.
WHAT THEY CAN'T SELL DOES
NOT
GO TO WASTE.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE
CONSIDERED RAGS.
THEY ARE NOT IN GOOD ENOUGH
SHAPE TO BE SOLD, SO OFTEN TIMES
THEY GO TO TEXTILE COMPANIES AND
FROM THERE THEY BRING MORE MONEY
TO THE PROGRAM.
THE RIDES ALONE BRING IN ABOUT
200,000 DOLLARS.
SALES FROM THE STORE, MORE THAN
$4 MILLION.
PEOPLE AT THE WAREHOUSE SAY THAT
