Thousands of Pounds of Clothing Diverted from the Landfill

Council on the Environment’s Office of Recycling Outreach and Education (OROE) and its Greenmarket Program are expanding their partnership with Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey to begin clothing recycling at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket in Brooklyn.

This pilot builds on the already successful project at the Union Square Greenmarket, where over 31,000 pounds of clothing were collected—diverting them from landfills and incinerators. The donation of these items helps support Goodwill’s valuable programs, reduces export costs, and allows for the reuse of valuable clothing and textiles.

“We are thrilled to be expanding this very sucessful clothing collection program to Brooklyn,” said David Hurd, OROE Director. “Some 193,000 tons of clothing and textiles that could be recycled end up in the landfill each year. By bringing these materials to the Greenmarket on your way to shop, New Yorkers help save these valuable commodities.”

“Goodwill Industries is thankful for this opportunity to be part of the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket for this purpose and, with the Office of Recycling Outreach and Education, to help promote the importance of recycling in New York City,” said Ed Wilson, Goodwill’s Donated Goods Manager.

Textile collections start January 5th, 2008 and will occur every Saturday through March 29, 2008, from 8 A.M to 4 P.M. at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket. Acceptable donations include used clothing, shoes, boots, hats, jackets, towels, bedding, and linens. Tax receipts will be available upon request. The donation of these items helps support Goodwill’s many programs that assist people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

The pilot program has been dubbed “Second Chance Saturdays,” and is an expansion of the successful “Material Mondays” textile collection program initiated at the Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan over the summer and is aimed at helping the city and the Department of Sanitation meet the Mayor’s aggressive recycling goals.

The Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) is a hands-on, non-profit that has been improving New York City’s environment since 1970. Two of CENYC’s many programs include the Office of Recycling Outreach and Education (OROE) and the Greenmarket farmers markets. For more information on CENYC and its programs, visit www.CENYC.org.

Since 1902, Goodwill Industries has been a leader in recycling donated goods and selling them at its thrift stores to fund its mission work to assist people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. For more information visit Goodwill Industries of New York.