Recycled textiles have become a valuable commodity and Arlington’s schools are benefiting. The district earns approximately $2,000 annually from the Bay State Textiles recycling program which has collection bins at most schools.
95% of all textiles – clothes, shoes, sheets, towels, etc. –
are reusable and/or recyclable.
As consumers become more environmentally conscious and manufacturers pivot to meet consumer demand, used textiles are quickly turning from waste into money.
What exactly are ‘textiles’?
There’s a lot of confusion about what is considered a ‘textile’. Textiles include not only clothing, but also sheets, towels, stuffed animals, shoes, belts, purses, backpacks and more.
Can all textiles be recycled? Even if stained or torn?
Since all donated textiles are sorted, residents can combine outgrown clothing, lone socks and ripped sheets all in the same bag. Contrary to popular belief, textiles in any condition are welcomed. This includes items with stains, rips, missing buttons, or broken zippers (though wet or mildewed items should be placed in the trash).
Textile collectors sort all materials, and items that aren’t sold to consignment and second hand stores are sold to manufacturers who will break down the materials and repurpose them.
What does textile ‘recycling’ mean?
According to Mass DEP, 45% of collected textiles are sold as secondhand apparel. Another 30% are turned into industrial wiping cloths. The remaining 20% are broken down into basic fiber components and remanufactured into insulation, carpeting or recycled into new garments.
The shift in environmentally conscious consumer behavior has led to a surge in the demand for recycled textiles which offer a more sustainable alternative to conventional fabrics and production methods. In addition, regulatory initiatives and government support, such as the 2022 Massachusetts textile ban, are also driving the market.
Arlington Schools Earn Cash
Residents have numerous options for recycling textiles, including Bay State Textile collection bins at nine of Arlington’s schools. Though textiles can be collected all year long, every spring, Arlington’s schools compete to see which school community can collect and recycle the most textiles. During the competition last May, nine schools collected a total of 31,870 lbs of textiles. That’s the equivalent of nearly 8 pounds or textiles per student – collected in the month of May alone. Funds from the recycling program are used to support school sustainability programs such as supplies for green team programs and school gardens and annual events like the Youth EcoSummit and Arlington High School EcoFair.
Where to recycle textiles
Textiles CANNOT be put in curbside recycling bins, they must be recycled separately. Residents can recycle textiles all year long at numerous locations throughout town. Bay State Textile collection bins help to fund school programs, but residents can also support the nonprofit/charity of their choice: Second Chances, Veterans, Epilepsy Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Red Cross, Goodwill Industries, St. Vincent de Paul, Planet Aid, etc. In addition, the Town has partnered with Helpsy to offer curbside collection.
Resources:
- Arlington textile bin drop-off locations
- Schedule curbside textile pick-up with Helpsy or call 1-800-244-6350
- Mass DEP Fact Sheet: Used Textiles – a Valuable Resource
- Blog: Textiles Reuse & Recycling Update
