WEARABLE CLOTHING RECYCLING: faq

WHAT TYPES OF TEXTILES DOES WEARABLE COLLECTIONS ACCEPT?
Wearable Collections accepts all used clean clothing including shoes and hats. We also accept household items such as curtains, linens, towels, handbags and belts. We do not accept carpeting. If you need to recycle carpet please go to: http://www.carpetrecovery.net

IS WEARABLE COLLECTIONS A NON-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION?
We are not a non-for-profit organization. Rather, we serve as an agent for non-for profit organizations. We handle all the logisitcs of the clothing collections and dedicate a portion of the proceeds to our charitable partners.

CAN I GET A RECEIPT FOR DONATED CLOTHES?
Sorry we do not provide receipts for the NYC home pick ups since we are not a non-for-profit organization. However, our relationship with the GrowNyc.org enables us to hand out tax deductible receipts at the 9 weekly greenmarket locations in which we collect textiles.

IS ALL THE CLOTHING RECYCLED?

According to SMART (Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles), industry standard is the following:

45% is used as apparel which is exported to developing nations, where demand for secondhand clothing is particularly high
30% of recovered textiles become wiping rags for commercial and industrial purposes.
20% is reprocessed into fibers for furniture stuffing, upholstery, insulation, sound proofing, carpet padding, building and other materials.
5% is unusable and not fit for recycling

Does the Wearable Collections program exist only in NYC?

NO! We have done collections as far away as Boston and Washington DC.

There is no limit to how far we can host a collection. The caveat is that in order to travel certain distances, the amount of clothing required for pick-up must reach a minimum. Email us at info@wearablecollections.com to find out what the minimum is for your area.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF IMPLEMENTING A CLOTHING RECYCLING PROGRAM IN MY BUILDING?

None! Wearable Collections will provide you with everything you need to make for a successful clothing recycling program in your building, all at no cost.

Will Wearable Collections come to my home for a pick up?

While we would love to make clothing recycling as convenient as possible for everyone, we need to adhere to strict minimums for home pick ups. Wearable Collections only exists because of our ability to run an efficient company both economically and ecologically. For this reason the following are our minimum bag requirements: (1 bag = 30 gallon kitchen bag)

Manahattan - 5 bags

Brooklyn - 15 bags

Queens, Bronx and Staten Island - 40 bags

We don't mean to discriminate. This simply reflects the frequency in which we operate in each area. Wearable Collections is a community based operation so we feel comfortable asking people to coordinate with neighbors to reach the minimums.

Do you have any drop off locations in NYC?

YES! We are now collecting used clothing and textiles at nine weekly greenmarket locations in partnership with the GrowNYC. Your donations helps to support GrowNYC's environmental and greeening programs. You can find us at the following locations every week:

Friday- W 97th @ Columbus and Amsterdam 8am-2pm

Saturday-- Grand Army Plaza in Park Slope 8am-4pm

Union Sq @ 14th st and Broadway 8am- 4pm

Ft Greene @ Washington Park at Dekalb 8am - 3pm

McCarren Park @ Union b/t Driggs & N 12th st 8am - 2pm

Inwood @ IshamSt b/t Seaman & Cooper 8am - 3pm

Sunday-- Tompkins sq park @ Ave A and 9th st 8am-4pm

Jackson Heights @ 34th Ave b/t 77th & 78th Sts 8am - 3pm

Monday-- Union Sq @14th st and Broadway 8am-4pm

You can also sign up for GrowNYC's newsletter here and get updates on our special one-day collections