Mon November 14, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USAgain-Park District launch pilot program to make clothing recycling more convenient for Chicagoans
Recycling boxes now available for use at 10 park district locations
West Chicago, IL (November 14, 2016) Clothing recycler USAgain is helping Chicagoans meet their need for convenient clothing recycling at several Park District fieldhouses throughout the City.
USAgain has partnered with the Chicago Park District to launch a year-long pilot program, placing clothing recycling receptacles at 10 park district locations at no cost to taxpayers. The pilot program serves to complement the park district’s recycling and waste reduction efforts by recycling textiles – including clothing, shoes and sports equipment, such as baseball gloves.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Chicago Park District to help make recycling easier and more accessible to park district guests and the communities around the City,” said USAgain CEO Mattias Wallander, noting that EPA studies show that 85 percent of unwanted textiles wind up in the trash. “The recycling program is designed to work with the City and the community to encourage clothing recycling so residents can give their clothes a second life instead of throwing them in the trash. This partnership represents a win for the environment, a win for consumers and a win for taxpayers.”
Along with increasing a jurisdiction’s sustainability profile, adding a textile collection and recycling program enables it to reclaim thousands of cubic yards of landfill space. USAgain can leverage its own resources to ensure the pilot program works efficiently and is popular with users.
Many local municipalities and government agencies in Illinois have worked with USAgain to establish successful partnerships and guidelines. USAgain has worked with several other park districts to provide indoor and/or outdoor collection bins, including Lisle Park District, Park Ridge Park District and Warrenville Park District.
The locations of the recycle receptacles in Chicago correspond with existing USAgain service routes in order to facilitate frequent monitoring and pick up outside the 10 fieldhouses. The receptacles have been placed and are now available for the public to use at the following locations:
USAgain is a member of the national trade association for the clothing recycling industry – Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART), which supports adhering to “Code of Conduct” guidelines aimed at regulating collection bins throughout the country.
About USAgain:
USAgain, a leader in the textile recycling industry since 1999, with corporate headquarters in West Chicago, is a for-profit company that recycles and resells reusable clothing and other textiles. Its mission is to provide consumers with a convenient and eco-friendly option to rid themselves of excess clothing, which is then diverted from landfills, and resold to markets in need of affordable clothing. USAgain maintains more than 12,500 collection boxes in 15 states. USAgain has partnered with more than 1,000 non-profit organizations – including schools, places of worship, food banks, hospitals, fire stations, humane societies and youth groups. For more information, visit www.usagain.com.
