FW: Textile Recycling - Please share with Sustainability - Peggy

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ami...@willamettewatershed.com

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May 5, 2025, 12:05:27 PMMay 5
to Waste Prevention Action Team | Corvallis Sustainability Coalition

Hi, Waste Prevention Action Team,

 

Please see the email below that I received from Peggy Lynch, the Natural Resources lobbyist (volunteer) for the League of Women Voters of Oregon.

 

I wonder whether Republic Services will be offering a similar service since Waste Management is probably their biggest competitor. Kenny, do you know anything about this?

 

Annette

 

From: Peggy Lynch <peggyl...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 5, 2025 8:51 AM
To: Annette Mills <ami...@willamettewatershed.com>
Subject: Textile Recycling - Please share with Sustainability - Peggy

 

A new pilot program wants to make a dent in textile waste, allowing Troutdale residents the opportunity to recycle clothes, linens and towels for free during quarterly pickups.

Waste Management celebrated the debut of ReTRN (Recovering Textiles Right Now), a pilot program that creates a convenient solution for customers to reuse and recycle textiles at no additional cost.

There will be special collection dates as part of regular residential curbside services. The first occurred Thursday April 24, with subsequent dates planned on June 26, September 2025, and January 2026.

“As the largest recycler in North America, (Waste Management) is committed to advancing the circular economy,” said Raymond Randall, senior manager of textiles. “Through this collaboration we are working to build out a supply chain for the beneficial reuse and re-fibering of old textiles so this valuable material can be diverted from landfills and used again.

“(We hope this contributes to building a textile management system where materials don’t go to waste,” he added.

ReTRN

The hope is to expand ReTRN to more markets if the program is successful this year in Troutdale. 

Courtesy photo: Paul Leonetti, Waste Management

Participants can place up to 10 bags filled only with textiles at the curb next to their standard garbage cans. Bags must be no larger than 35-gallons, and securely closed (double-bagged if possible). Label each “WM Textiles.”

Accepted items are: clothing, socks, fabric, curtains, towels, bedding, pillows and scarves. They can be new, gently-used, well-used, torn, ripped or stained. They should be free of chemicals, mold or other hazardous materials.

Shoes, accessories (hats, gloves, belts), and mattresses will not be accepted.

All of this comes at a time when textile waste is an ever-growing problem.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American throws away roughly 80 pounds of textiles — worn-out clothes, linens and more — for a total of 34 billion pounds annually across the country. Of this, 85% ends up in landfills or burned.

If this pilot is successful, it could be scaled to further markets. It is in collaboration with Goodwill Industries International and materials regeneration company Reju.

The fiber can be used in a variety of ways. Cotton, polyester and nylon can all be re-fibered for new life in different ways. Some may be downcycled and used in roof insulation, pet bedding, or acoustic tiling. Old denim jeans can become speaker insulation. Old pillows turned into new dog beds.

Items in suitable condition will be reused and sold by Goodwill.

“Waste Management has had the privilege of serving the city of Troutdale for more than 30 years,” said Dave Huber, senior public sector manager. “We’re excited now, during Earth Month, to kick off this innovative pilot for the city.”

For more information visit wmnorthwest.com/troutdale/wmretrn

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Ilene McClelland

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May 6, 2025, 11:50:47 AMMay 6
to ami...@willamettewatershed.com, waste-prevention--corvalli...@googlegroups.com
Except for the part where materials in suitable condition end up at Goodwill, Vina Moses Center would welcome Republic Services to accept textiles for recycling. Right now, those of us that recycle textiles and shoes have our own systems with small recycling outfits and amongst each other. (Think The Arc, downtown and regional resale stores, Willamette Grange, Heartland, etc.) I'd be sorry to see a system in place that favors Goodwill over local nonprofits. 

Either way, I'd be surprised if Republic takes it on - I've been bugging them to take textile recycling since I started at Vina in 2020. (In fact, that's what prompted me to find this action team.) 

A risk of curbside recycling is that people would discard reusable textiles instead of donating them to places like Vina, The Arc, Heartland, etc. (As a reminder, Vina gives away everything for free.) Many people don't want to donate to Goodwill - we hear it all the time. If there was a curbside textile recycling program, there would have to be a serious public education campaign alongside it to remind people to donate to people in need first, then recycle what is left. Too many people don't know what can be reused and why, nor are they aware of our existing vibrant social recycling economy.

I could talk about this at length - I have a lot to say. :)

Thanks,
Ilene




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Waste Prevention Action Team | Corvallis Sustainability Coalition
VISION: Corvallis is a waste-free community that fosters behaviors to reduce consumption of material goods.

sustainablecorvallis.org/what-we-do/action-teams/waste-prevention
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LARSON, KENNETH

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May 6, 2025, 12:27:08 PMMay 6
to Ilene McClelland, ami...@willamettewatershed.com, waste-prevention--corvalli...@googlegroups.com
My biggest concern right now about curbside textile pickup is that we are only a month and a half from the launch of the new Recycling Modernization Act recycling list, which already going to require significant education. I also share concerns that perfectly good textiles might end up being recycled instead of donating to places like Vina and Arc, etc. 

Kenneth Larson

Municipal Administrator

110 NE Walnut Blvd.

Corvallis, OR 97330

e  klar...@republicservices.com

c  541-974-0368

w  www.RepublicServices.com





Except for the part where materials in suitable condition end up at Goodwill, Vina Moses Center would welcome Republic Services to accept textiles for recycling. Right now, those of us that recycle textiles and shoes have our own systems with
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Jeanette Hardison

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May 6, 2025, 1:25:42 PMMay 6
to Annette Mills, Ilene McClelland, Waste Prevention Action Team | Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, Kenny Larson
I share the concerns about partnering with Goodwill International, and would not be supportive of that, though their far geographic reach is surely part of what made them suitable to WM.

As important and pressing as this issue is, it feels a bit myopic for WM to try this in the middle of Oregon's statewide RMA launch. Even if it is just "special collection dates" in Troutdale, doing it curbside could get *very* confusing for the general public. In the recycling world, once a specific source-separated collection gets established, it is very difficult to stop the flow of materials. In addition, the convenience of curbside could directly cause the concerns raised by Ilene and echoed by Kenny, of recycling before donating for reuse.

When Greg Fitzpatrick and I spent considerable time looking into a textile recycling program for Corvallis many years ago, we were hoping Vina Moses and/or the South Co-op could be collection points for trailers from St. Vincent de Paul in Eugene, which at the time was accepting clean usable textiles.  St. Vinnies would then further sort the materials into sellable clothing to support their mission, and other textiles might either become sellable Bags of Rags or go through a textile shredder and become furniture batting.

We eventually back-burnered our efforts because of all the challenges to find/pay for staffing to monitor/quality control a drop site, and to identify suitable, cost-effective backhauls to pick UP the materials.

All that said, it is still exciting to see a waste company prioritizing reuse and recycling by embarking on this.

Jeanette 


ami...@willamettewatershed.com

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May 10, 2025, 8:29:48 PMMay 10
to Ilene McClelland, waste-prevention--corvalli...@googlegroups.com

Thank you, Ilene. Your perspective is much appreciated!!

 

Annette

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