The Borough of Folcroft in Delaware County, Pennsylvania kicked off a new partnership with Community Recycling to encourage textile recycling and reuse while lessening landfill usage. By aligning forces, the two organizations hope to inform residents about the power of reuse, reduce landfill usage, recycle clothing and make the community greener.
The new program will provide Folcroft residents a way to recycle items other than traditional curbside recyclables. Pulling clothes, shoes, bags and belts that are perfectly reusable from the waste stream and placing them in the textile bin allows Community Recycling to connect the dots and get the ‘stuff’ into the hands of those who need affordable options the most. It’s an easy way to reduce waste and increase diversion because everyone has ‘stuff’ in their homes.
Community Recycling is proud to be a for-profit recycler of textiles. They have flipped the recycling triangle upside down and have mastered the most powerful ‘R,’ REUSE, with all of the clothing collected destined for reuse by those in need of affordable options. With more than 70% of the world’s population dependent on second-hand goods, reusing the extra ‘stuff’ we all have makes great sense.
"Despite the fact that textile recycling is the oldest and greenest industry, you would be surprised to know just how often slightly used clothes, shoes, bags/belts or household items hit the waste stream when they can be reused,” said Lisa Pomerantz, VP Marketing and Business Development at Community Recycling.
“Folcroft is pleased to work with Community Recycling as we expand our recycling efforts to clothes and shoes,” said Clifford D. Wilson, Borough Manager. Having expanded to single stream recycling this is another means of encouraging recycling resources.
“If we can ALWAYS think about the people that will be on the receiving end of our gently worn clothes, we'll get REUSE right every time. ‘People Recycling for People’ is more than just a motto to us, ” said Pomerantz.
You can drop off your gently used, clean textiles at the Recycling Center (1555 Elmwood Avenue) in the Borough of Folcroft where a Community Recycling collection bin has been conveniently placed. Any local businesses or schools in the area that would be interested in hosting a bin should feel free to contact Community Recycling. Convenience certainly plays a large role in a successful textile recycling program.
Today, Community Recycling works with communities, cities, towns, individuals, schools, organizations, non-profits, retailers, thrifts and big corporations all over the country. All the textiles collected have journeyed to points around the globe where affordable, gently used options are most needed.
ABOUT COMMUNITY RECYCLING
Community Recycling is proud to be a for-profit textile recycler with a focus on REUSE. They have flipped the recycling triangle upside down and have mastered the most powerful ‘R,’ REUSE, with more than 98% of the goods collected destined for REUSE here and around the world. Engaging people in the communities in which they do business is essential to making the recycling process readily understood and as convenient as possible.
Community Recycling is effectively diverting millions of pounds of clothing, shoes and other secondhand goods from landfills, generating new revenue streams for municipalities, townships, boroughs, commercial retail locations, schools, charities, thrifts; and fueling local economies by creating jobs both here and in emerging countries.
