Millions of people in the United States and around the world cannot afford the barest of necessities, including shoes and clothes. So it is more than a little infuriating to read stories like this one in the New York Times about corporations intentionally sending unworn clothing, shoes, and other textiles they cannot sell to landfills. It's especially inexcusable given the slew of organizations that will accept these items and get them to the folks that need them. Waste Age has reported on a few.

At a time when landfill space is at a premium, it is in the waste industry's interest to help curb this wasteful, shortsighted practice.