all i throw away are strings- as in the little (less than 1/2" frayed edges that are slivered off-
everything else is useable for something- i keep a special basket under my cutting table for the scraps i know i will not use- those i donate to the scouts- 4-H er's, school art department---kids are very creative- and they (being little themselves) don't mind the little pieces- in fact they fit them perfectly.
i just don't throw away fabric- it has to be a sliver of nothing- strings/frays in order to actually hit the waste basket.
with the economy the way it is kids groups/schools are looking for anything they can find to help suppliment-
i moved 4 years ago and i have one little group who is now 50 miles away from me- who still call and ask if i have any fabric scraps they could possible have...
they make treasure boxes-
thats what the kids call them-
they take shoe boxes - apply glue- and cover with scraps of fabric- the kids LOVE making them- some of them are AMAZING! and all with what alot of quilters just throw away!