Did you know that every year, Ohioans throw away about 30 million pounds of old clothing and textiles? Even if you donate our old clothes, they only get repurposed if they’re in good shape and can be resold. Torn, stained, or worn-out clothing and textiles typically end up being put into landfills or incinerated in very low-income communities in Africa or Asia, and there typically haven’t been any good options to recycle these unwanted fabrics.
Fortunately, SWACO is working with partners across Franklin County on a pilot program to accept end-of-life clothing that can’t be resold or reused elsewhere. Throughout June and July, you can drop off end-of-life clothing for recycling at SWACO’s Recycling Convenience Center and at sites in Bexley, Worthington, Upper Arlington, Ohio State, and at select Goodwill stores. The items collected will go on to be recycled into products such as sound-proofing for cars and filling for punching bags and other sports equipment, giving them a second life and keeping them out of landfills here and abroad. Best of all, the program is an opportunity for SWACO and others to study what it would take to recycle all of our community’s end-of-life clothing and other textiles in the future. Click here to learn more or to find a drop-off site near you.
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Don’t Miss It: Recycle Right At Home
We all want to do our best for the environment and to save resources, but it can be hard to know what can go in your curbside recycling bin, what needs to be dropped off at a special collection site, and what can’t be recycled at all.
Fortunately, SWACO can help with all of that. Join us June 25th at noon for a one-hour webinar with all the info you need to feel confident in your recycling. By taking just a few minutes to recycle the right way, you help reduce pollution, contribute to cleaner water, conserve limited natural resources, support our economy, and reduce central Ohio’s reliance on landfills. Click here to learn more and register for this fun, informative webinar.
