How to recycle: Textiles

Beginning November 1, 2022, Massachusetts banned the disposal of textiles in household waste, meaning that clothes, bedding, and any other textiles are no longer allowed in the trash. Why did Massachusetts do this? And what options do you have for old textiles? 

Zero Waste Melrose has information, resources, and ideas for you.

Why did Massachusetts enact a textile disposal ban?

According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Massachusetts residents and businesses were discarding textiles (clothing, shoes, bedding, other cloth items) totaling 230,000 tons every year. For some perspective, this equates to the weight of 1,115 Boeing 747 jumbo jets. 

About 85% of clothing and textiles that are thrown away end up in a landfill, yet 95% of this presumed waste can be reused or recycled. Massachusetts has a robust infrastructure to support textile reuse and recycling. The ban on textiles in the trash will reduce the burden on the environment and benefit Massachusetts’ businesses and economy. When Melrosians recycle textiles, it saves the City of Melrose money on trash disposal costs, directly helping our community. 

What is included / not included in the ban?

Textiles are defined as bedding (comforter, sheets, pillow cases, blankets), towels, curtains, fabric, clothing, footwear (including flip flops), and similar items. See a complete list here from Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART). Items in any condition (worn, torn or stained) can be recycled. All items should be clean and dry, as the textiles are graded and sorted based on quality and condition and allocated for reuse or recycling. Almost all of the textiles collected are reused or recycled.

The items do NOT need to be in usable condition but they should be clean and free of chemical or gasoline/oil residue. Textiles that are contaminated with mold, bodily fluids, insects, oil, or hazardous substances are not eligible for reuse or recycling and should be thrown in the trash. These are not subject to the waste ban and can be disposed as solid waste.

What options do I have for old textiles? 

Melrose residents have many convenient options to recycle textiles! 

• DROP-OFF: Drop-off bins for textiles are available at various locations around Melrose. 

• A drop-off bin is located at the DPW City Yard at 72 Tremont Street (open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7:30 am – 2:45 pm year-round; Saturdays 8:00 am – 3:00 pm April to December). 

• Drop-off bins are located at all of the Melrose schools and are available 24/7.  

• Bay State Textiles operates the drop-off bins at the schools and the program raises money for Melrose schools. 

• Based on the weight of material collected at each school, Bay State Textiles provides a rebate. In 2022, the program collected 71 tons and rebated $7,146.50 to Melrose schools. For more information, visit www.BayStateTextiles.com. 

• When using any of the drop-off bins, please put the clean textiles in a bag before placing it in the bin. Do not leave donations outside of the bins. 

• PICKUP: The Simple Recycling program picks up textiles (and more!) from your home.  

• Collect your items in any box or bag of your choice and schedule a pickup. To schedule a pick-up, visit simplerecycling.com. Enter your zip code online and the site will display available dates to schedule a pickup. Or you can call Simple Recycling at (866)835-5068.

• Put the materials by your door for pickup – not curbside.  

• Simple Recycling is free for residents and operates at no cost to Melrose.

Accepted clothes, textiles, and other household items

Both Bay State Textiles and Simple Recycling accept: clothing, shoes, purses, hats, backpacks, blankets, drapes/curtains, pillows, sleeping bags, and stuffed animals. In addition, the Simple Recycling pickup program accepts silverware, dishes, pots/pans, tools, and jewelry. For a complete list of accepted items, visit www.baystatetextiles.com or www.simplerecycling.com.

Neither program accepts mattresses (see our Mattress recycling information for details on these items), carpets, foam cushions, or rugs larger than 2’x4’. 

More options to recycle, repurpose, or repair textiles

For even more options, use the MassDEP-supported Beyond the Bin Recycling Directory and Recycle Smart to search by type of material and your location to find out where in Massachusetts to recycle, reuse, or re-purpose items that don’t belong in your household recycling bin. 

Thrift stores such as Savers, Goodwill, and Salvation Army collect textile donations and will recycle any textile that is not sellable in their stores. Donation bins sponsored by other organizations are also available throughout Melrose and nearby communities.

Another option is to bring or mail unwanted clothing and shoes to stores or manufacturers that accept their own products for recycling.

And, last but not least, consider repurposing textiles for other household needs, such as cleaning rags, painting drip clothes, or dog toys; consider repairing them with fanciful stitching or patching, or visiting a cobbler for shoes, belts, or purse repairs.