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When you make a purchase at a consignment or thrift store, you avoid both the disposal of that item as well as the resources needed to produce any new item you would have otherwise purchased. Nearly two quadrillion pounds of used clothing is thrown away each year, often in very good condition, which works out to nearly 67 pounds per person.
You can save significant amounts of money at thrift and consignment stores, especially for high-end brands.
To find a consignment store near you, check out a local website like Yelp.com. No comprehensive directory exists, but over 2,000 stores nationwide are listed at http://www.resaleshopping.com. There are also national chains of resale stores including Play It Again for sports equipment and clothing and Once Upon a Child for children's clothing.