Worn or Torn- Donate It All!
As part of a new public-private partnership known as the Textile Recovery Initiative, the Town of Arlington will host a public textile collection and educational campaign to help residents reduce the amount of textiles that end up in the trash. Arlington has joined state-wide and national efforts to collect unwanted clothing, footwear, linens and other textile products at collection containers that benefit many causes.
Acceptable Items
• Clean ad dry used clothing- Rips, stains, missing button and non-functioning zippers are accepted
• All footwear
• Accessories: hats, gloves, scarves, handbags, duffle bags, totes, belts, ties
• Linens: sheets, blankets, comforters, dishtowels, throw rugs, drapery, table linens, placemats
• Stuffed animals, pillows, small fabric area rugs (2' x 3' or smaller)
Unacceptable Items
• Moldy, wet, or mildewed items
• Carpet, rugs and rug pads
Where
24 hour donation bins around town are clearly marked with the name of the organization benefiting. Bay State Textiles is a for-profit company that shares the profits with Arlington Public Schools. Planet Aid and Red Cross boxes are hosted by many Mass Ave. service stations, and both are international nonprofits. Second Chances is a Somerville/Cambridge nonprofit that serves those at risk of homelessness, and their collection bin can be found in the Whole Foods parking lot. The monthly DPW Recycling Center also collects textiles for recycling.
What are the Benefits?
According to waste composition analyses, approximately 230,000 tons of usable clothing, footwear, towels, linens and other fabric-based materials end up in landfills and incinerators in Massachusetts annually. Textile recycling experts estimate 95 percent of all textiles can be recycled or reused. With increased awareness of the impact of textiles, several Arlington public schools, along with the town’s Recycling Committee, are tackling the issue by establishing and publicizing new collection sites.
In addition to saving energy and reducing the town’s trash disposal costs, donating textiles generates revenue for local and international organizations. The school-based bins are serviced by Bay State Textiles, a for-profit company that sells the used textiles and shares the profits with the Arlington Public Schools. These bins are located at Brackett, Bishop, Thompson, Stratton, Peirce and Ottoson Schools.
Why Arlington Cares
Recycling Committee member Dori Mazor is helping get the word out, "I've been an avid recycler (and recycling evangelist!) all my life, but didn't realize until a few months ago that textile recycling is an extremely easy strategy for saving energy and reducing waste." DPW recycling coordinator Charlotte Milan finds that many residents are understandably surprised to learn that almost all textiles are recyclable. "We're taught to think that clothing donations should be wearable, and we don't want to offend anyone by placing broken or stained items in the donation bins." But times have changes, and so has the value of these "textiles". Milan continues, "Now residents can have confidence that they can support any organization they care about by donating textiles, even when they are not wearable. Unusable items get sold (by the ton) to rag and insulation producers. In fact, our car doors are often filled with sound and temperature insulation made from recycled textiles."
Get Involved
Join the Town in our efforts to reduce waste and repurpose valuable resources! In addition to making donations, residents are encouraged to publicize the initiative through their networks and social media, and to get involved with the Arlington Recycling Committee. For more information, contact Charlotte Milan at cmilan@town.arlington.ma.us
