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Slow Fashion & Rags

September 14, 2022November 7, 2024

In our post a few months ago, we introduced the term “slow fashion,” discussing what it means, how it’s different from fast fashion and why it is important to choose slow fashion when making decisions on what clothing to purchase. In this blog we hope to discuss another large reason slow fashion is so important, which is that the slow fashion movement is paramount for the rag and recycling industries directly.

Our parent company, Wipeco, Inc. is a supply company that focuses on providing quality wiping rags to those in the industrial, manufacturing and janitorial industries. And quality is of utmost importance when creating rags from pre-consumer waste and post-consumer used textiles. For the history of wiping rags and the role they have played across the years, check out our blog post, “Wipers”.

Quality Matters

Why is quality so important when it comes to creating wiping rags? Clothing that is poorly made doesn’t make good rags.

“The days of recycled 100 percent cotton wiping rags are pretty much over, and so are the days when wiping rag manufacturers could rely on industry specifications. The problem is that clothes and textiles simply aren’t as well made as they used to be. A shirt that falls apart after a few washes can’t be transformed into a rag suitable for wiping down a freshly washed car or a restaurant table. Cheap fast fashion isn’t just hurting thrift shops; it’s hastening a garment’s trip to the landfill or garbage incinerator.” (“Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale”, Minter, p 162)

This is why slow fashion is so important for the wiping rag industry. When consumers choose to care about the quality of their clothing and how it is made and the people who make it, everyone wins. The consumer wins by having a quality item that will last wash after wash and one that they can feel good about buying. The secondhand store wins when the consumer no longer needs that item as it will be in good condition to be resold or sent to a grader. The wiping rag supplier wins by having quality material to sell to industries in need of rags. Because the clothes last longer there is greater demand for second-hand wear in the export market AND it is less labor intensive to sort, as there is a greater percentage of rewearable or reusable items.

Fabric Matters – Polyester vs Cotton

When it comes to wiping rags, the type of fabric matters. Depending on what the rag is needed for, different fabrics will absorb and clean in different ways. Cotton is stronger and more absorbent than polyester, so allows for greater reuse. “When assessing if an old garment will make a useful rag, [Nicole Malalieu, a fashion lecturer at Australian College of the Arts] says “to steer clear of anything that’s polyester or synthetic because it just doesn’t absorb as well”. (Found Here)

Polyester and polyester blends have multifaceted challenges in terms of recycling and reuse of fabric. Polyester and even polyester blended fabrics prove ineffective for use in the wiping rag industry, causing their end of life as a textile to come much sooner than other naturally made fabrics such as cotton. The problems with polyester continue as laundering this fabric releases microplastics into the water and it does not naturally biodegrade in landfills as other textiles would – 100% cotton for example.

Some might ask, “But what about its ability to be recycled again and again into new garments?” Though it may seem a greener alternative due to this possibility, there is no current strategy for efficient separation of blended fabrics such as polyester. In contrast, 100% cotton has multiple reuse options as the absorbent material makes it highly desirable for breathability and absorption, etc.

Slow Matters

From caring for the quality of life of textile workers to caring for the environment and the life of a textile, slow fashion is a win-win for everyone.

The textile worker wins by being given a safe place to work and liveable wages.
The environment wins by having less of its resources used or polluted.
The consumer wins by having a unique, quality piece of clothing to wear that will last longer than fast fashion pieces.
The resale store wins by having quality clothing to resell for better prices.
The wiping rag supplier wins by having better quality wiping rags to supply to industries they serve.
And the environment wins yet again by having biodegradable textiles in landfills at their end of life versus ones that don’t break down.

It is easy to see that slow fashion is the best choice. As you look to purchase new clothing in the future, please consider long term benefits and choose slow fashion retailers that help all of us benefit.

Programs

CTR FAQ

August 10, 2021November 8, 2024

Chicago Textile Recycling receives numerous questions from readers and recyclers daily. We are happy to answer any and all questions you may have about textile recycling as one of our goals is to educate readers about the importance of recycling textiles and keeping them out of landfills. There are a few questions that come up repeatedly in our inbox and so thought it may be helpful to address some of those with a blog post covering each one.

Can I Ship Items to Your Facility?

You are welcome to ship items to our facility in Hillside, however it will be at cost to you. This is why we do our best in placing bins around the Chicagoland area, partner with SWALCO to place even more bins, partner with local resale stores, and are always looking for new, often frequented locations to add more bins. If you are looking for a bin or partner resale store near your location, please email us and we will let you know of the closest one. Also, if you know of a business that would be happy to host a bin, please reach out to us.

Where Do I Take Items too Worn for Resale?

Another question we receive quite frequently at CTR is this one. And our answer is “donate all of your items to the same place.” Resale store employees are experienced in knowing what will have resale value and separating out the rest to sell/give to textile recyclers and graders.

CTR works with numerous resale stores in the Chicagoland area consistently picking up items unusable by resale stores and sending them overseas or to graders, who decide the fate of each item. When in doubt of what to do with a used textile, it is best to donate it and let the experts decide if it is indeed at its end of life. We accept worn, torn and stained items, so please donate them.

Why Don’t You Post a List of Your Bins

As for the question we often receive regarding why we don’t post a public list of our bins, at this time we don’t provide one. Unfortunately in our industry there are many illegal bin operators that don’t follow permitting and permission guidelines. These companies often search for public lists and drop illegal bins on the listed properties. This causes confusion and hassle for our donors as well as partner locations. So we keep our list private to help protect our recycling partners from these types of operations.

Do You Recycle Fabric Scraps?

Most recycling organizations are seeking clothing, as it is the most versatile material for recycling. Although there are recycling options for scraps, it is really large volumes (hundreds of pounds) that are necessary to process these kinds of materials. With that in mind, we always recommend that individuals get creative with these items for recycling. We would recommend that you contact a local preschool or daycare and see if they would like these items for their art room. Often these kinds of locations greatly appreciate donations of this sort. Another resource we would recommend you checkout is freecycle.

Can You Destroy Company Apparel?

Yes! Our Business Recycling & Destruction Services program offers local businesses the opportunity to responsibly recycle branded apparel items through textile recycling. We typically are able to accept: 100% Cotton T-Shirts, Polo Shirts and Sweatshirts and Cotton/Poly Blend T-Shirts, Polo Shirts and Sweatshirts. CTR is able to offer a certificate of recycling to your company as well as photographic evidence of destruction per request. Our destruction services are free once the apparel arrives at our facility. We are able to pick up for a fee or you can ship/drop off to us. Please see our website for more information.

What Happens with the Donations?

This is another great question we receive quite often. There are many possibilities of where your donated clothes can end up. This is why it is so important to not throw textiles away! The short answer is: resale, wiping rags, reprocessing or landfill. To know more about each of these and follow the entire process, read our blog about “Where Do They Go? Part 1 – Bins”.For what happens when donating to resale stores, the process is nearly identical. You can read all about it in “Where Do They Go? Part 2 – Resale Stores”.

Donating with R-E-S-P-E-C-T

April 21, 2021November 8, 2024

“One garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or incinerated every single second around the world.” (quoted by Elizabeth Cline in “The Conscious Closet”, p32, originally from a publication by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation)

Many of you, our readers, have asked “Can I donate this?” when referring to items that are torn or stained or in condition less pristine than “gently used.” The answer is yes. Always donate items if you are unsure. Unless it is wet or smelly, please donate it. If it is wet, dry it and then donate it. If it is smelly, wash it and then donate it. As quoted above, trashing textiles continues to be a huge problem in our world, one with huge effects on our ecosystems.

To shine a little more light on this topic, Elizabeth Cline’s book “The Conscious Closet” addresses some of the very questions you have asked and highlights some tips for Used Clothing Etiquette.

Clothing is Not Garbage

“Many of us make an honest effort to donate our gently used clothes, but we’re confused about what to do with the pieces that are worn out or broken. Isn’t it disrespectful to donate these items?” (Cline, p32)

The answer is no. Here at Chicago Textile Recycling, and most resale stores, we want all of your used textiles. As noted above, unless it is smelly or wet, please donate. There are employees highly trained at resale stores and grading facilities that sort each piece, and those that are not resaleable can still be used. Some of the uses for worn out, stained and torn clothing can be fiber content for car seat filling or insulation or wiping rags for businesses such as automotive companies and restaurants, for example. Few donated textiles are truly at their end of life, but it is always best to allow the experts to decide. So please donate textiles, no matter the condition.

“The vast majority of clothes are thrown out before their useful life is over, which amounts to lost value, resources and landfilling fees.” (Cline, p 32) Cline goes on quoting multiple sources about the millions spent in landfill fees for trashing and burning textiles, greenhouse gases emitted by clothes in landfills as well as hazardous chemicals released by some synthetics. She continues, listing the immense environmental benefits from recycling and donating clothing. With donating clothing, she highlights some tips for offering quality donations and showing respect for those to whom we donate.

Used Clothing Etiquette

In her book “Conscious Closet”, Elizabeth Cline devotes hundreds of pages to simple steps the reader can make toward caring for our Earth through taking better care of our textiles. This can be done in a myriad of ways: caring about workers making our clothes, demanding clothes of better quality, keeping textiles out of landfills, treating textiles with respect, understanding different fibers and fabrics and more. After cleaning out our closets, she shares guidelines of etiquette we should strive to follow to make the best use of items we no longer desire to own. They include:

Clean your clothes, no exceptions
Remove personal belongings and detritus
Tie your shoes together
Mend and repair
Never leave your donations outside unattended

Clean Your Clothes, No Exceptions

The first guideline she suggests is to clean your clothes before donating them. This follows our requirements that no donations be smelly or wet upon donation. “Set-in stains are fine if you’re recycling, but odors and unwashed dirt and grime are not.” (p 31) She continues, “Do this out of respect for the dozens of people who will handle your clothes. Dirty clothes also might end up in the dump, as it takes secondhand clothing dealers precious time to wash them.” If you are choosing to donate textiles to help care for our planet, and you are choosing to travel to a bin or resale store, choose also to make sure your donations are clean first.

Remove Personal Belongings and Detritus

The second guideline is to “Inspect your pockets and the fabric and remove all pet hair, lint, dirty tissues, coins, receipts, and the like” (p31). This is done out of respect for those you are donating to so that they do not have to take precious time in doing this. It also can be for your own sake. Shopping for purses at a thrift store, I once came upon a purse that had around ten $1 dollar bills inside. This person missed out on precious money by not checking their items before donation. Other times, I have pulled on my own coats when winter rolled back around only to find a $10 or $20 dollar bill I had forgotten was in the pocket. Remember to check through your items before adding them to donation bags.

Tie Your Shoes Together

Thirdly, Cline recommends tying your shoes together when donating. “There’s an overseas market for single shoes, but those that are paired up are much more valuable and have a greater chance of finding a new home.” (p 31) Again, these guidelines are about respecting workers in the secondhand business and doing small things that make a big difference with our donations.

Mend and Repair

“All donated clothing should be mended or repaired whenever possible to extend the item’s life and keep it out of landfills.” (p 31) At Chicago Textile Recycling and most bins and resale stores, torn textiles are accepted and wanted, but repaired or mended items have higher value and more salability. If you have the time and want to offer higher quality donations, mended and repaired items are greatly appreciated.

Never Leave Your Donations Outside Unattended

Lastly, as we have said before, especially during this time of Covid-19, when many resale stores have reduced hours or are even closing at times for the pandemic, it is vital that you check with your donation site first to make sure they are accepting donations at that time. If they are closed or “the collection point is full, do not leave your items outdoors unattended. Clothing left outside might get rained on or become damp and then mildew. From there, it will be landfilled.” (p 31)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T and Gratitude

All of us at Chicago Textile Recycling are thankful for your donations. A big part of our gratitude is having those who donate show respect for our planet, for their textiles and for us by following many of these guidelines of etiquette and showing great care for their textiles. It is the heart of our organization to see textiles stay out of landfills and have second lives in the hands of other consumers, as wiping rags or as fiber content. If you have further questions about donations we accept, check here and then reach out for more information or to find your nearest bin or resale store.

Our Company

The Fate of Fabric Through the Years

October 9, 2020November 13, 2024

Have you ever wondered when resale and charity shops began? What need necessitated their foundation as well as the foundation of textile recycling? And how did they grow to where they are today? This blog aims to answer some of those questions behind the history of resale in our country and the needs it fills in our modern day.

History of Resale

While donating to the poor dates back millenia, the idea of owning too much stuff and donating one’s excess belongings dates back at least two centuries. In the early to mid-1800s,

“Rag and bone men would travel through city streets on foot, usually carrying a large bag over their shoulder. They rarely had any form of transport and were generally very poor people trying to eke out a living from collecting anything that they thought might have a resale value such as old rags, cloth, bones and metal.”

In regards to the resale of cloth, “if the rag gatherer could collect (and dry) decent white rag in good condition, he could sell it to local cloth traders for around 2 to 3 pence per pound, with coloured cloth fetching about 2 pence per pound.” This idea of cleaning and reselling wiping rags for profit is what inspired many companies, such as Wipeco, Inc. into what we are today. For more history of rag and bone men, read here.

In February 1932, an article was published stating “the average American home had fifteen dollars’ worth of unused goods in the attic, and to most Americans those unused items were a ‘burden, contributing nothing to their welfare or happiness.” (Minter, “Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale”, p 49) Since then, overconsumption and the need for donation centers has grown tenfold.

Other resale outlets started around the same time as rag and bone men. In 1865, “the Salvation Army was founded to evangelize to the urban poor of London” (Minter, p 50). It began by employing “the city’s indigent to collect, repair, and sell unwanted goods.” By 1897, it had expanded to New York.

Around the same time, Goodwill began when “the Reverend Edgar James Helms took over Boston’s Methodist Morgan Chapel and began a program to collect and repair clothes in local neighborhoods.” (Minter, p 50) The organization passed out burlap coffee bags to collect items from locals, which were later renamed “goodwill” bags. This led to the name of the present day organization.

Over the last two centuries, resale stores have sprouted up all around the world, each with its own mission to support local charities and nonprofit organizations serving those in need.

A number of these resale and thrift stores were founded by evangelicals to reach out to the poor in both converting them to Christianity AND serving their basic needs. Today, many resale programs remain true to this mission of being Church-led outreach oriented while many more have been borne from secular or other religious programs focusing on serving the needs of those in their communities.

Resale Today

So what does resale look like today? What missions do resale stores serve, and how do they reach these missions?

In his book, Minter states that Goodwill is “a crucial civic institution.” (p 52) Though he is talking specifically about Goodwill, this is true of all nonprofit mission-oriented resale organizations. From job training to furthering education in communities to caring for the homeless and the poor to providing much needed jobs, the entire resale industry is one that is vital to our country.

While larger resale chain stores serve missions previously discussed, smaller locally-owned resale stores have a variety of missions and populations they aim to help as well. When researching these stores in the Chicagoland area, some of the missions that came up were: providing therapeutic care for children who have suffered abuse or neglect, serving the extreme poor in Chicago, a stepping stone for those coming out of incarceration or substance abuse, funding care for the uninsured and under-insured, serving families in need, and supporting HIV/Aids testing.

From helping the environment to decreasing waste to supporting those in need, the benefits of buying secondhand go on and on. Chicago Textile Recycling works in conjunction with local resale stores in pursuing those missions they serve.

History of Chicago Textile Recycling

For the last sixty years, Wipeco, Inc. has accepted textile donations, recycling them, and selling used textiles as wipers for janitorial and sanitation supplies throughout Chicagoland. In the 1980’s our sister company CTC Supplies (formerly Continental Textile Company) opened as a full-service textile grader in Milwaukee. With over 60 employees, Continental Textile Company sorted hundreds of thousands of pounds of used clothing annually. Wipeco, Inc. worked in tandem with this company by purchasing and cutting wiping-cloth grade items and selling them to manufacturing facilities.

After years of successful operations, Continental Textile Company was forced to change direction as the global economy advanced and costs of high labor and being far from international ports made it no longer finally advantageous to operate. The company rebranded to CTC supplies and began focusing on wiping rag sales and used clothing consolidation and brokerage. CTC shut down the majority of the grading operation, and Wipeco, Inc. stopped a bulk of the cutting, focusing instead on packaging and distribution of wiping cloths. During this time, Wipeco continued to maintain a small resale store pickup program and a laundry recycling program.

Chicago Textile Recycling Today

In 2012, the collection side of operations picked back up with the creation of “Chicago Textile Recycling.” For the past eight years, we have grown to consolidate donations from over 40 local resale stores and service various textile collection bins through the Chicagoland area.

“Chicago Textile Recycling provides textile recycling outlets and fundraising opportunities for area organizations, businesses and municipalities. By collecting used clothing, shoes, and household items for reuse and recycling, Chicago Textile Recycling diverts over 2.5 million pounds of waste from area landfills annually.”

Chicago Textile Recycling contributes to local resale stores in their pursuit to support local organizations and missions through consolidation and helps to educate the general public on the importance of textile recycling to benefit our planet and keep textiles out of landfills.

The Future of Textile Recycling and CTR

As awareness continues to grow around the problems of fast fashion and improperly disposing of textiles, many are attempting to create solutions in the industry and raise awareness so that the general public can be a part of the solution. From designers utilizing fabric scraps to entrepreneurs and inventors creating machines to recycle textiles into new fabrics to volunteers pushing toward cleanups and recycling education, the future of textile recycling appears bright.

New companies and programs are growing daily to educate and promote resale over disposal of worn clothing, and as the general public grows in awareness around the options for recycling their textiles, there is much hope that fewer and fewer will be sent to landfills. This awareness helps to further our mission to support local resale, create wiping rags for manufacturing facilities and educate the public around the benefits to our planet of recycling textiles.

Programs

Resale Stores 101

September 11, 2020

Nearly a year ago, we shared a blog about where recycled textiles go once they have been donated to a bin, or to a resale store. From sorting to consolidating to grading to their final destination, recycled textiles can go on to have a lengthy second life after you choose to donate them.

So what happens when your donations are placed in the store for resale? Are they simply resold as is, in the same condition you dropped them off? What do resale stores do with the money from sales? And do all salvageable items go on the floor?

Behind the Scenes

The behind the scenes look at local and chain resale stores is quite fascinating. Many stores go the extra mile to repair or clean salvageable donations with minor problems before placing them on the sales floor. Skilled craftsmen are employed in addition to those on the sales floor to repair these minor fixes.

“Upholstery is cleaned, and couches are shampooed, cleaned and sanitized. Electronics are plugged in to make sure they work. Donated mattresses are taken apart and rebuilt by a company before being resold at the store…In the woodshop, workers go through pieces of furniture. ‘If it’s salvageable, they’ll clean it up, make minor repairs if they can,’ Burleigh said.” (Read more here)

However, not all donations are salvageable. So what do resale stores do with these items?

“Furniture and other items that aren’t fit for sale in the Salvation Army store because they’re stained or defective are taken to the As-Is warehouse behind the processing center to await public auctions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Store merchandise not sold within three weeks also gets auctioned.”

This is why in our previous posts we have pointed out that it is important to make sure your donated items like electronics are in working condition. A working toaster or cd player is going to bring in more money for the resale store than a broken one, which may not bring in any. The sale of these items puts money back into the community and supports charitable causes.

Partner Programs

In addition to the two options of sales floor or auction, resale stores have partnership programs with local and/or national businesses and organizations:

“Goodwill participates in the Dell Reconnect program, in which computers that can’t be refurbished are recycled, and Dell pays Goodwill for the materials. Another partnership is with the nonprofit Shared Knowledge Literacy Foundation, which looks for unsold books with high-value titles that can be sold online.”

Many other resale stores also find local programs that can offer mutually beneficial partnerships, such as a thrift store in Virginia that donates books to “The Up Center for literacy programs.”

Partnership programs is where Chicago Textile Recycling fits in with resale stores. We have a partnership program with over 40 local Chicagoland resale stores to help them raise funds from their unsaleable clothing, purses, shoes and belts. Acting as a consolidator for these stores, we partner with them so that they too can raise money for local charities just like the bigger name resale stores.

Where Does the Money Go?

The next question you may be wondering is what do resale stores do with the money made from your donations? Of course some of the money has to go back into paying the store’s rent and utilities and paying employees, but the remaining profit oftentimes goes back into community programs and local charities. “All the money made in local Goodwill stores goes back to community programs – job training and career development for people with disabilities or obstacles such as homelessness.”

Resale stores have a variety of programs they support with the money made from sales:

“All proceeds raised by local stores go toward the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, which houses 114 men for six months to a year as they fight drug and alcohol addictions. To feed them three meals a day costs $20,000 a month, Burleigh said, in addition to expenses such as heat, water and electricity.”

Local (non-chain) resale stores typically have other community programs and charitable causes they work with. Many stores in our own Chicagoland area support homeless shelters, low-income families, and other programs.

This is why here at CTR we believe so strongly in what we do. Many of our recyclers previously gave their excess to the big guys – and then weren’t able to raise funds for their own critical programs. We stepped in and began consolidating all their unsaleable items with those from other local small business resale stores. The money they make from our purchase of those items goes back into our city supporting many great and vital programs in the community. We love supporting the people in our city and local small businesses while also caring for our planet.

Donations to Sales Floor or Somewhere Else?

After your donations have been sorted, there are many options as to where they can eventually wind up. As stated earlier and in previous blog posts, some donations go to auction, some to other countries, some to make rags or insulation, and some to the sales floor or local shelters.

“At the Union Mission Ministries store in Norfolk, in-house use is the top priority. ‘The first thing we do when we get items donated like clothing, we see where we can use it in our shelters,’ said Linda Jones, the mission’s public relations director. The approximately 350 people in the shelters get free clothing, and if they move into apartments, they are given household items. The next priority: poor people in the community, who receive vouchers and can pick out items from the store for free.

Whatever’s left after that is open for sale to the public, Jones said.”

Another resale store owner shared about a similar end for donations,

“Clothing that doesn’t sell is given to shelters for people in need, and linens that are stained or otherwise can’t be sold are donated to local animal shelters and animal hospitals, said Frances Ross, the Norfolk store’s assistant manager.”

Where We Fit In

Here at Chicago Textile Recycling, we support small resale stores so that they can turn around and give to local shelters and other charitable organizations. Many cannot generate the volume of larger stores, so we purchase clothing items that are unsaleable and typically send them to a business who specializes in sorting and processing. We specifically serve as a consolidator and help fill full truckloads of baled unsaleable textiles (43,000 lbs at a time). This allows small resale stores to raise funds the same way the bigger name resale stores do and support their local nonprofits.

This is one big reason thrift or resale stores are so vital in our communities. They work to provide thousands of people with clothing and other household goods.

Why Choose Resale

Here are some of the many ways resale stores are important for our economy and the health of our planet:

They “employ tens of thousands of people”
“Generates at least $18 billion in annual revenue”
“Keeps an enormous amount of used stuff out of landfills”
“Contributes billions each year to social-service and job-training programs that are crucial to communities nationwide”

(Statistics found here)

After understanding the myriad of ways resale stores benefit our communities and planet, where CTR fits in as a partner to resale stores, and knowing the problems fast fashion potentially create, why not choose resale for all of your shopping needs?

Programs

The Truth About Shoes

July 30, 2020July 28, 2020

“According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Americans throw away at least 300 million pairs of shoes each year. These shoes end up in landfills, where they can take 30 to 40 years to decompose.” Read more here.

Here at Chicago Textile Recycling, the majority of our posts and blogs are about textile recycling, which includes any textiles that can be resold as is or recycled into rags or fiber content. When textiles come to mind, most people think of clothes, towels, sheets, etc, but not necessarily shoes. However, CTR does in fact accept paired shoe donations. This blog post will hopefully bring more clarity around shoes we do accept, facts about shoewear and how to handle your shoe purchases and ownership in an environmentally responsible way.

Paired Shoes – Shoes That CTR Accepts

Chicago Textile Recycling does accept paired shoes at their donation bins and partner resale stores. Shoes are a high demand item at CTR, primarily for reuse. If you have shoes that you no longer wear and they are simply sitting in your closet, please donate them. Types of shoes that are in highest demand are sneakers or athletic shoes, followed by leather work shoes and then sandals. Men’s shoes are in higher demand than women’s shoes as men typically own, and thus recycle, fewer pairs of shoes. However, we accept all sizes and most types of paired shoes and would love your donations.

Making Smart Shoe Purchases

When making the choice to purchase new shoes, there are factors to making smart choices about the kind of shoe and amount of shoes that are environmentally responsible. Shoes are needed for different activities, such as:

flip flops for summer time and time at the beach
warm boots for winter if you live in a cold climate
rain boots for living in the city and commuting to work in the spring
tennis shoes for running and exercising
dress shoes for work

Various shoes are needed for various reasons, but the problem comes in when shoes are bought and never worn, or worn once, or worn for looks and not for comfort.

Typically women are more renowned for overbuying in the shoe department. “Americans spend $85.6 billion on shoes every year.” (statistic found here) However, this is not always the case. Men also can choose to overbuy, and parents buying for their kids can easily find children shoes too cute not to purchase numerous pairs.

The environmentally responsible thing to do would be to buy shoes on an as needed basis for the variety of purposes they can serve and save the rest of your income for other areas in your life. Even better, as you are shopping for new shoes, purchase a single higher quality versatile shoe rather than several pairs that each only fit one specific purpose. Just as fast fashion makes cheap clothes that don’t last – the same is true with shoes. Quality over quantity is the environmentally friendly choice.

Regularly look through your shoe collection to find any that you do not wear or no longer wear and donate them to CTR or one of our partner resale stores if they are a style of shoe our program accepts.

A final environmentally responsible choice would be to use those shoes that are not easily reusable such as high heels or slippers or flip flops as much as possible so that they are thoroughly loved before they reach their end of life in a landfill. If broken, you could seek repair rather than simply throwing them away. When my husband’s cold weather boots started to split at the bottom, I made a final attempt at the local shoe repair store before finally throwing in the towel. Though not as prevalent as they once were, shoe repair stores can still be found and offer a great alternative in giving shoes a longer life.

True Shoe Recycling

Although there is much in the news about recycling textiles and the numerous companies that are taking that challenge head on, there are not many options for recycling shoes. The biggest way to extend the life of a shoe right now is to donate it for reuse. Much more innovation is needed for shoe recycling to be a legitimate option for shoes you no longer wear.

One recycling program, Nike Grind (reuse a shoe), accepts only athletic shoes for use in Nike Products. This is a good program, but unfortunately, good condition athletic shoes are some of the highest in demand for reuse also, which is what CTR serves to do with our donated shoes. We are still in need of other companies and organizations to take the lead in helping spread awareness about the problems of overbuying and how fast fashion through shoe buying specifically adds to the harm of our planet.

Recycle, Not Trash

It is important to remember to always donate or recycle and not to throw used textiles and shoes in the trash. Right now, the best end to shoes you no longer wear would be to donate them to local resale stores and CTR bins so that they can be reused by others if possible. Allow CTR and resale stores to have the final say of whether a shoe (or textile) is truly at its end of life. Little by little we can create change together.

Resale Stores

Textile Recycling During Covid-19

July 16, 2020July 14, 2020

As resale stores and our own textile recycling bins reopen around the Chicagoland area, you might be wondering:

“Is this safe?”

“Can and should I donate?”

“What new protocols are in place to keep employees, donation providers and customers safe from catching coronavirus?”

In this blog, we hope to educate our recyclers about what has changed in textile recycling during Covid-19 and how to stay healthy during our ongoing pursuit of keeping textiles out of landfills and taking care of our Earth.

Is This Safe?

The biggest question about recycling textiles and buying secondhand during the coronavirus pandemic is “Is this safe?”

Recently, the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles association (S.M.A.R.T.) posted about this very question. They wrote,

“Worried about visiting your local donation center, charity, or thrift store? Have no fear! As they reopen, we have heard from many entities that they are taking social distancing restrictions and enhanced sanitation policies seriously. This means you can donate in confidence, while knowing that you are making a significant difference for our environment.”

As a personal consumer of secondhand items, I have already witnessed this statement at work shopping at my local thrift store as well as attending a children’s consignment sale.

At the thrift store, aisles had been spread wider to encourage social distancing, markers were placed on the floor at the check-out lines, sanitizer was right inside the door and all employees and shoppers were wearing masks as required.

At the consignment sale, there were two employees behind plastic windows with masks on, hand sanitizer and masks upon entry as well as a thermometer checking customers’ temperatures. While shopping, there was only one other shopper who entered the entire hour I was there. And of course when I returned home, all items immediately went into the laundry or were sprayed down to disinfect.

In addition to reassuring those who shop and donate at secondhand stores in their blog post, S.M.A.R.T. issued a statement months prior addressing the Used Clothing Ban that many countries have adopted during Covid-19. In it, they assure importers the safety of continuing to buy and receive secondhand items, which also can reassure patrons of thrift stores. They stated,

“Numerous studies including those published in the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet have shown that COVID-19 may be detectable on hard, non-porous surfaces like plastics and metals for hours and potentially up to 2 to 3 days. The virus, however, is far less likely to survive on soft, porous surfaces like textiles including rugs, carpets and clothing, new or used. As recently issued guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on COVID-19 notes, mitigating whatever small risk might be present on soft, porous surfaces like textiles is easily addressed by laundering the textile/garment according to manufacturer instructions in warm water. This advice is supported by the fact that countless hospitals and other medical facilities are utilizing reusable linens and personal protective equipment/hospital apparel to protect healthcare workers that are treating patients infected with COVID-19. Notably, the CDC has not made any changes to existing guidance on how these textiles should be handled and processed since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States.” (read more here)

Another member of S.M.A.R.T., Bank and Vogue, agrees,

“From way before the COVID-19 outbreak, thrift stores have taken measures to keep a clean and healthy environment in their facilities. During this pandemic, these procedures have just heightened. As thrift stores begin to open up around the world, they have implemented new protocols to ensure the virus is not transmitted to any of their stakeholders. For instance, the clothes collected from bins usually stay 72 hours in trailers before getting into the warehouse. Also, thrift stores disinfect the workplace several times a day, all the employees use protective masks and gloves, and they assure social distancing by establishing a maximum capacity inside their facilities.”

It is ultimately up to you and how comfortable you feel leaving home right now, and what protective measures you are currently following when being around others. However, rest assured that donation centers and thrift stores are taking every measure on their end to ensure that coronavirus is not spreading at their facilities and that they are striving to keep employees safe and healthy.

Can and Should I Donate?

Can I?

The simple answer to the second question is a resounding yes. Thrift stores are reopening. Our textile recycling bins are slowly opening back up also, with the bin located by our warehouse already available 24/7. Donation centers are open again with stacks upon stacks of boxes and bags and furniture donations. What has everyone done at home during the quarantine? Clean out their closets…and homes apparently. Thrift stores and donation centers are currently overwhelmed by donations. A friend online recently posted a picture of our local Goodwill store with donations stacked from the donation door all the way to the front door. It has become a problem across the country. Are your donations still desired by secondhand stores? Yes. But maybe not right now.

The overwhelming donations have become such an issue that the media has begun reporting about it. In a recent piece by Adam Minter, author of “Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale”, he stated,

“A drop-off in demand plus a surge in supply is creating a storage problem, with thrift stores across the country now looking for additional space or even suspending donations. That, in turn, has led to a rush of well-intentioned spring cleaners dumping their used goods at the doors of closed thrift shops. These informal “donations” don’t help anyone: They create health and safety risks, force thrifts to pay disposal costs for stuff that might otherwise have been a source of revenue, and increase the likelihood that perfectly good products will end up in landfills.”

Keeping this in mind, Minter and executives of charity shops he spoke with encourage those who want to donate to simply hold onto their donations for a while longer until donations start to slow down. In addition, Minter shared advice to those desiring to donate:

“If you’re looking to donate, you should also make sure your stuff is labeled and take care that it’s actually usable. A broken toaster isn’t a gift to Goodwill, it’s a cost. Most thrifts maintain lists of acceptable items that are worth consulting before dropping anything off. Whatever you do, don’t ‘donate’ when the thrift store is closed. More likely than not, your stuff will be pilfered or ruined by the elements before it gets through the door.”

During the first few months of coronavirus, we were stuck at home with nowhere to go surrounded by all of our stuff, so we cleaned. Chicago Textile Recycling made posts about now being the time to clean out those closets and dressers and more. As we cleaned out our homes, we had no choice but to store it somewhere until donation centers and recycling bins reopened. Here is the advice that Minter, thrift and charity shop owners, and CTR wants to pass along…keep it there, for now. Simply wait a little while longer to donate so that these stores and charities are not overwhelmed or burdened by your donations, but waiting eagerly for them again.

Should I?

As stated in the first quote above by the S.M.A.R.T. association, “you can donate in confidence, while knowing that you are making a significant difference for our environment”. Should you continue to donate old textiles instead of throwing them in the trash? Absolutely. In the same post, S.M.A.R.T. says,

“If you have taken the time to go through your old clothes, shoes and other unused or unwanted textiles while navigating quarantine, we hope you opted not to toss them in the trash. Why? Because when they find their way to landfills, they have many negative environmental impacts, including contributing to greenhouse gas emissions!”

Can you donate? Yes. Should you donate? Yes. But hold on to your donations just a few months more. Thrift stores and charity shops want your donations. The health of our planet needs your donations to stay out of landfills. This involves not throwing your old textiles away AND waiting until those businesses are ready and able to handle your donations in a way that benefits our planet and continues to help them in their missions to help others through your donations:

“The thrift industry is more important than most Americans realize. Largely out of sight, it employs tens of thousands of people and generates at least $18 billion in annual revenue. It keeps an enormous amount of used stuff out of landfills, and contributes billions each year to social-service and job-training programs that are crucial to communities nationwide.”

Minter continues later in the article, describing consequences of overwhelming resale stores right now,

“The consequences should be a concern for all Americans, whether or not they shop in thrift stores. In 2018, Goodwill alone funded $5.3 billion in charitable services, including education assistance, job training and work placements. Smaller donation-based charities, such as the arc Thrift Stores in Colorado, spend millions each year employing people with disabilities. As the pandemic’s economic impact spreads, those contributions will necessarily shrink. Already, Goodwill is facing thousands of layoffs nationwide.”

Let’s take care of our planet and the people on our planet by waiting a little while longer.

What new protocols are in place to keep employees, donation providers and customers safe from catching coronavirus?

As stated above under “Is it safe?,” many thrift stores and charity shops have adopted new or increased existing disinfection protocols in their stores. In addition, they have implemented creative solutions to ensure social distancing and other ways to decrease the chances of spreading coronavirus in store. Some of these new protocols include:

clothes collected from bins usually stay 72 hours in trailers before getting into the warehouse
thrift stores disinfect the workplace several times a day
all the employees use protective masks and gloves
they assure social distancing by establishing a maximum capacity inside their facilities
aisles spread wider to encourage social distancing
markers placed on the floor at check-out lines to maintain six foot rule
sanitizer placed inside front door
shoppers requirement to wear masks being enforced
reduced hours to have more time for cleaning and disinfecting

With these protocols set in place, you can rest easy returning to your local resale stores.

Moving Forward

As we are all learning new ways of doing things during this time of coronavirus, it is still so important to continue to prioritize the health of our planet. Recycling textiles is one big way we can do this. Now that businesses and bins are reopening, remember to save your textile donations and gradually bring them in when your local resale stores are no longer overwhelmed. Remember also to prioritize the health of yourself and others by wearing a mask and social distancing.

Green Benefits

The 5 R’s

December 17, 2019December 19, 2024

“Although 75% of America’s waste is recyclable, we only recycle around 30% of it.”

In September, the Vice President of our company attended the S.M.A.R.T. 2019 Regional Meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina. Over the course of the weekend, he attended a Panel Discussion with three leaders making a difference in the textile recycling world. One of these leaders was David Rousse, president of the International Nonwoven Disposables Association (INDA). During his presentation, David discussed plastics in the environment, the importance of recycling, and posted one salient powerpoint slide that takes the three R’s we are used to… Reuse, Reduce, Recycle…two steps further.

In his “Desired Path Forward” for the future of our planet and recycling, David calls for each of us to “Support the 5 R’s”:

Refuse – plastic bags, straws, cutlery, etc
Reduce – use of plastic in packaging
Reuse – versus disposing; may include repair
Recycle – into same or another product
Repurpose – use an item for something else

At Chicago Textile Recycling, we strongly encourage our recyclers to recycle their textiles, with us, or with their local resale store. And even further, we truly desire to see each of you go beyond recycling only textiles to eco-consciously disposing of all recyclables you come into contact with, from plastics to aluminum, cardboard and paper to anything that can be kept out of landfills by using one of these 5 R’s. “Over 11 million tons of recyclable clothing, shoes, and textiles make their way into landfills each year.” With “9 out of 10 people [saying] they would recycle if it were ‘easier,’” we at Chicago Textile Recycling hope with education about recycling and raising awareness, these numbers can change.

A few months ago, we encouraged this very idea through a blog post highlighting a few things CTR does not accept in their bins and how you can go about recycling those products in your area. Read that blog here.

Refuse – plastic bags, straws, cutlery, etc.

The first “R” David highlighted was to “Refuse” plastic bags, straws, cutlery, etc. When out and about, it is so easy to stop by a store and buy an item and simply accept a plastic bag upon purchasing that item. But David and those at INDA encourage us to refuse plastic bags. If it is something small, choose instead to carry the product(s) out of the store in your hand or purse after purchasing. Even better, place a few reusable grocery bags in your trunk, and put them back in there after unloading each time when you get home. That way, you are never in need of a plastic bag even if you’re simply making a quick stop on your way home from work.

Refuse straws and plastic cutlery by drinking with an open lid or also stocking your car with reusable straws and cutlery when out and about. Go one step further and bring your own reusable travel cup. These are small items that could even fit in your purse or backpack if you use alternative transportation getting around in daily life. Small efforts go a long way in helping reduce your carbon footprint. “According to a study done by the University of Georgia, 18 billion pounds of plastic trash winds up in our oceans each year. To put that in perspective, it’s enough trash to cover every foot of coastline around the world with five full trash bags of plastic…compounding every year.”

Reduce – use of plastic in packaging

The second “R” is to “Reduce” the use of plastic in packaging. Recently, we posted an article about how parts of Asia are reducing packaging by grouping produce items with banana leaves instead of plastic bags. (Read more here) Part of this problem is improper disposal. “The United States throws away $11.4 billion worth of recyclable containers and packaging every year.” The other part of the problem is simply reducing the need for this packaging with creative solutions, such as banana leaves for produce. “The amount of plastic film and wrap produced annually could shrink-wrap the state of Texas.”

Some ideas from this website on reducing your plastic use include opting for products in recyclable boxes or cardboard containers rather than bottles, staying out of the frozen section of the grocery store and buying bulk with reusable containers.

Reuse – versus disposing; may include repair

In our consumer-driven society, we often choose to throw away something when it is in need of repair rather than taking time to mend it or have it mended. A hundred years ago, this was not the case. Most belongings were made with high quality and longevity in mind, so when they did break or need mending, there were shops in place or know how by the general public in fixing these items at home. Many women sewed the family’s clothes, so when there was a rip in the fabric or a hole in a sock, repairs were easy and done right at home.

This newer proliferation of consumerism and the ease it brings in replacing rather than repairing has led to an overabundance of items ending up in our landfills when they could have lasted longer with a bit of loving repair. Our third “R” is “Reuse” – versus disposing, which may include repair.

Learning the basics of sewing can help many of your textiles have a longer shelf life at home and making good use of youtube videos can also help in minor repairs of items around the house. With landfills reaching their limits, it is increasingly important that we seek out items that are made with high quality and return to the mindset of repair and restoration over replacement.

Reuse and DIY (Do-It-Yourself) is in fact an up and coming trend and has the potential to again become the norm. Bloggers, Youtube sensations, a peaked interest in DIY through the creation of Pinterest and small starter companies are pursuing this very idea of reuse in restoration through antiquing, restoring old homes with reclaimed barn flooring and original revamped antique pieces, reusing old clothes items in new ways with many other ideas of reuse in the everyday. As the focus on environment and recycling continues to grow, hopefully these interests of the upcoming generation will continue to expand the idea of reuse into the norm. The saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” rings true here as antiques and resale stores become a larger part of our consumer trend.

Recycle – into same or another product

The fourth “R” is “Recycle” – into the same or another product. Reuse and recycle are often confused terms so a simple explanation to differentiate the two is that reuse involves using the same product in its original form for the same or a different purpose. Recycling is a process and involves turning one product into a new product so as not to waste the material.

Recycling can involve numerous products, from cans to paper to textiles to plastic bottles, and much more. Some even make businesses out of collecting and creating art to sell with other people’s recycled goods. You can recycle paper down to pulp and create new paper or recycle blue jeans into insulation for homes. There are many ways that recycling companies have figured out how to create new products from older products with life still left in them.

As many of you know, the heart of who we are at Chicago Textile Recycling is about educating our community. Knowledge has been growing in the problem of textiles in landfills, and so has the pursuit of creating a closed loop of textiles and fashion. “Over 11 million tons of recyclable clothing, shoes and textiles make their way into landfills each year.” Donating your textiles to resale stores and donation bins is one big way you can give your textiles another life. The same is true of other goods in your home with regards to being recycled versus placed out by the curb on trash day.

Textiles can be recycled in almost every case, with the majority reused and resold in other countries. Other textiles are recycled and cut into wiping rags, and others are recycled and broken down into fibers to make filling for car seats, insulation and other products. Here is our blog about the process recycled textiles go through after donation.

Repurpose – use an item for something else

Already mentioned previously in this post is the fifth and final “R”: “Repurpose” your items for something else. There are many ways you can do this. Cutting an old coat down to a vest, using recyclables to make art, using old wood flooring to make picture frames or child size furniture, or turning old bed sheets into new clothes are just a few ways household items can be repurposed. Follow our page on Facebook or Twitter to read articles about different companies that are doing this very thing with textiles.

One example of this in our very own backyard is the Shedd Aquarium in downtown Chicago. Local artists have created sea animal sculptures outside the aquarium on display made from trash collected from our oceans. With a little bit of creativity, new purposes can be found for items anywhere you look.

wRap up

With a little extra effort, you can easily work these five R’s into your daily routine. Recycle textiles, bring along reusable bags and dining accessories, become educated in what to recycle and how to recycle it, and use a little bit of creativity when items in your everyday no longer serve their purpose. When each of us plays our small role in reducing our output to landfills, we can make a large difference in impacting our world for a better tomorrow.

All quote recycling statistics were found here.

Resale Stores

Orange, Black and Green: Choose Environmentally Conscious this Halloween

October 24, 2019January 10, 2020

One week from today those who celebrate the holiday will be out in their neighborhood (or a favorite spooky neighborhood) walking from door to door, ringing doorbells and shouting “Trick or Treat!” Kids will be excited and on sugar highs already, houses will be decorated, and children will be unrecognizable in donned costumes and alternative personas for one haunted evening of fun.

Where does Chicago Textile Recycling fit in this post about Halloween festivity? In our pursuit of encouraging each of you to recycle textiles, we also want to provide eco-friendly ideas whenever you need to purchase a new outfit, even if it is one to embrace your inner witch. Or ghost. Or superhero.

Shopping Creatively: Resale Stores and Your Closet

Shop Resale Stores

Resale stores are a great place to shop for Halloween inspiration. Our local Goodwill not only resells previously worn costumes for kids and adults, they also set up spots in their aisles with costume ideas that can be found in the regular clothes’ sections of their stores. In these spots, employees have pulled together items in the store to complete the look.

For instance, one spot had the idea of “Scarecrow,” gave simple directions on what to buy to to create the scarecrow costume, and had already pulled flannel shirts and overalls under the sign to look through and purchase. Add a straw hat, a few pieces of hay and some scarecrow looking makeup, and you are ready for Halloween!

Over the last six years, I have only purchased new costumes once or twice for my children, choosing instead to pull ideas from pinterest or buy secondhand from kids’ consignment and resale stores. By choosing to buy used, you are keeping perfectly good costumes out of the waste stream in landfills. Children’s costumes are the most prevalent option in resale stores, but there are adult costumes also, as well as ideas for pulling together costumes from what you already own or from the clothes’ racks of resale stores. An added bonus is that this option is always cheaper too!

Shop Your Closet

Your own closet is another great place to look for Halloween inspiration. It doesn’t take much to pull off a witch. When hosting a Halloween party with roommates a decade ago, I pulled a black dress, some orange and black striped socks, black tights and black boots together, borrowed an orange autumnal scarf from a classmate, and was left with only a witch hat to buy, which I found secondhand. Voila!

As noted above, there are other costume ideas that could be pulled from an already filled closet. A scarecrow would be simple with a flannel shirt and overalls. A zombie equally easy to create with some tattered dark clothes, or old clothes you could tatter yourself. Frankenstein would need a solid t-shirt, sports jacket, and a pair of slacks. With a small dose of creativity, and possibly a little pinterest inspiration, you can easily pull off many Halloween looks in the comfort of your own home.

Costume Ideas

Spider

Last year my son went as a spider for Halloween. I really couldn’t find many good premade spider costumes on the internet, so decided to check out pinterest and make one myself. I consider myself somewhat crafty but am definitely no sewing goddess, so this is not a hard one to make. It was simply a matter of looking for the pieces to make the whole.

He wanted to be a brown wolf spider, or something similar based on a Halloween decoration I purchased from our local Goodwill. Shopping around local thrift stores, I found a brown sweatshirt with an orange truck I was able to turn inside out, a pair of brown corduroy pants and a brown knitted hat. At the nearby craft store, I purchased an 8 pack of medium sized googly eyes and some brown ribbon. I then purchased two pairs of brown socks and a pair of brown gloves at our local Dollar Tree.

Following a look I found on Pinterest, I filled the two pairs of socks with plastic grocery bags, sewed them closed and onto the sides of the sweatshirt, and then hot glued ribbon to connect his two long sleeved arms to two socks on either side, with his legs creating eight legs total for the spider. A hot glue gun also helped with adhering the googly eyes to the front top of his knit hat, and he was an adorable spider that Halloween.

Farmer/Scarecrow

A farmer or scarecrow would be fairly similar in style. With a plaid flannel long-sleeved shirt, a pair of overalls and a straw hat, your basic look would be set. A pair of work boots could complete the look for a farmer, and some straw and makeup would turn you into a scarecrow.

Pirate

For a pirate, you will need a white shirt, black pants or cut offs, a red sash which could be an old t-shirt or pair of leggings and a sash or kerchief for your head. Or instead of a kerchief, a secondhand pirate hat or similar black hat would work well. A pirate sword could also be picked up secondhand, and you can choose to complete the look with an eyepatch. A black piece of felt with ribbon could suffice, or you can attempt to find an inexpensive one at a costume shop. Lastly, you can always add details like a parrot, or a vest made from an old shirt or sports coat.

Robot

If you have an excess of boxes lying around, and some dryer flex hose, a robot would be a fun and creative project to make for Halloween. Some paint is all you would need to add to make it your own.

Vampire

Do you already own a tuxedo? There is no better reason to pull it out of the depths of your closet than an evening of impersonating a vampire. Add a black cape made from an old sheet, or one found secondhand, some black hair spray (if your hair isn’t black), and the only new thing you really need is a pair of pointy teeth. I do not suggest buying those secondhand.

If you do not currently own a tux, a button down white shirt with black trousers would do the trick. And earn yourself a treat!

Many More Ideas

For inspiration, seek out your local resale store or type in “diy halloween costumes” on google or pinterest. There are so many easy and creative costumes you can make from already owned textiles and items in your home, and if you are feeling absolutely zero creativity in the craftiness department, there are many, many costumes and costume ideas at resale stores that involve simply reusing someone else’s costume from last year. Either way, you are doing your part in reducing waste, increasing the longevity of textiles, and recycling one person’s old costume (would be trash) into your new costume treasure.

Happy Halloween!

Our Company

We are CTR

August 22, 2019December 19, 2024

Who We Are

Chicago Textile Recycling is a textile recycling company that promotes a mission to divert waste from area landfills by providing textile recycling outlets all over the Chicagoland area. We formally launched our Chicago Textile Recycling (CTR) brand in 2011 as a way to develop our program more substantially after many years of offering textile recycling services under our parent company Wipeco, Inc. Currently , we service over 75 locations throughout the Chicagoland area including our donation bins and partner stores – and that number continues to grow! We also provide fundraising opportunities for area organizations, businesses and municipalities. By collecting used textiles (clothing, shoes, and household items) for reuse and recycling, CTR diverts over 2.5 million pounds of waste from area landfills annually.

As the dedicated recycling division, Chicago Textile Recycling works symbiotically with our parent company, Wipeco, Inc. to provide a closed-loop recycling solution for the local Chicagoland area. Founded in 1960 and family owned and operated, Wipeco, Inc. is Chicagoland’s Premier Wiping Rag Supplier, selling recycled wiping cloths nation-wide and extending the life of discarded textiles through repurposing.

Our company is also a member of Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles, “an international trade association…promoting the interdependence of the for-profit textile recycling industry segments and provides a common forum for networking, education and advocacy.” (quoted from the S.M.A.R.T. homepage) Our VP Justin Woycke currently serves on the Board of Directors of S.M.A.R.T.

Why We Blog

We are a company that cares about recycling and works to provide closed-loop recycling in our area. We desire a better earth for our children to grow up in by tackling one small part of the enormous waste problem. At CTR, we utilize our digital platforms to help educate the general public about the textile recycling industry while also following the latest news and trends.

What We Do

Chicago Textile Recycling offers four different programs to our recyclers and customers. We offer a Resale Store Recycling Program, Consumer Recycling Bin Program, Laundry Discards Service and Business Services Program.

Resale Store Recycling Program

Often resale stores and charities are given more donations than they can sell, or they receive donations with small rips and stains. Big chain stores have the ability to sell directly to global textile recyclers, however, smaller stores may not have the space or volume to recycle globally in this manner. That’s where we come in. CTR works as a consolidator in the Secondary Textile Industry to collect excess and unsaleable shoes and clothing from over 50 Chicagoland resale stores that otherwise may not have space or volume to sell directly.

Resale stores are paid by CTR for all goods received, allowing them to financially benefit from items that would have otherwise been landfilled. We schedule regular or call-as-needed pick-ups and provide detailed reporting for store convenience. Please contact us if you know of a resale store that may be interested in this service.

Consumer Recycling Bins

Chicago Textile Recycling partners with area organizations, businesses, and municipalities who host a collection bin to divert textiles from the waste stream and generate funds. These bins are regularly serviced and expertly maintained by our drivers. If you are interested in hosting a bin, please contact us for more info. Reliable payment and detailed volume reporting are two benefits we offer. Another benefit that ensures quality for your business is that our bins follow the SMART Collection Bin Code of Conduct.

Laundry Discards

We at CTR work with commercial laundry facilities to recycle linens (sheets, towels, washcloths) and other items no longer acceptable for circulation. Clients include:

commercial laundries
hospitals
hotels

Transportation on an as-needed or weekly scheduled basis are offered as well as reliable compensation for what is sold to us.

Business Services

Lastly, here at CTR, we offer environmentally friendly destruction of excess, outdated or misprinted branded materials. Rest assured knowing your brand identity is safe and your items are being recycled responsibly. Chicago Textile Recycling is equipped to process 100% cotton t-shirts, 100% cotton sweatshirts, and cotton/poly blend t-shirts. We offer certificates of recycling and photographic proof of destruction upon request. Find out more here.

Because We Care

Through these four programs, Chicago Textile Recycling works toward closed-loop recycling in the greater Chicagoland. We care about the environment and creating a better world for the future. CTR works in many ways to help keep Chicagoland greener and encourages everyone to do their part by recycling textiles. Please contact us with any questions or for more information.

Quality Matters

Fabric Matters – Polyester vs Cotton

Slow Matters

Can I Ship Items to Your Facility?

Where Do I Take Items too Worn for Resale?

Why Don’t You Post a List of Your Bins

Do You Recycle Fabric Scraps?

Can You Destroy Company Apparel?

What Happens with the Donations?

Other Questions??

Clothing is Not Garbage

Used Clothing Etiquette

Clean Your Clothes, No Exceptions

Remove Personal Belongings and Detritus

Tie Your Shoes Together

Mend and Repair

Never Leave Your Donations Outside Unattended

R-E-S-P-E-C-T and Gratitude

History of Resale

Resale Today

History of Chicago Textile Recycling

Chicago Textile Recycling Today

The Future of Textile Recycling and CTR

Behind the Scenes

Partner Programs

Where Does the Money Go?

Donations to Sales Floor or Somewhere Else?

Where We Fit In

Why Choose Resale

Paired Shoes – Shoes That CTR Accepts

Making Smart Shoe Purchases

True Shoe Recycling

Recycle, Not Trash

Is This Safe?

Can and Should I Donate?

Can I?

Should I?

What new protocols are in place to keep employees, donation providers and customers safe from catching coronavirus?

Moving Forward

Refuse – plastic bags, straws, cutlery, etc.

Reduce – use of plastic in packaging

Reuse – versus disposing; may include repair

Recycle – into same or another product

Repurpose – use an item for something else

wRap up

Shopping Creatively: Resale Stores and Your Closet

Shop Resale Stores

Shop Your Closet

Costume Ideas

Spider

Farmer/Scarecrow

Pirate

Robot

Vampire

Many More Ideas

Who We Are

Why We Blog

What We Do

Because We Care

© 2024 Chicago Textile Recycling