Mon January 23, 2012
SAN JOSE, Cali. - (January 23, 2012) - The Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley (BGCSV) has partnered with USAgain to provide drop-boxes at six San Jose area Clubhouses where members of the community can conveniently discard unwanted clothing, shoes, and textiles for reuse and recycling, while supporting BGCSV.
"We are developing a program called Club Green, and our partnership with USAgain fits right into the initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of our organization," said Teresa Johnson, Director of Operations for BGCSV. "By providing our communities with an alternative to throwing away unwanted clothing and shoes, not only are we giving a simple way to keep our neighborhoods clean we are supporting the Clubs too."
According to the EPA, Americans discard approximately 13.1 million tons of textiles annually. Only 15% of which is collected for reuse and recycling - leaving 11.2 million tons of textiles to be dumped in our nation's landfills.
The USAgain drop-boxes are a convenient and eco-friendly way for local residents to discard unwanted clothing, shoes and other textiles in addition to providing a new revenue stream to the Boys & Girls Clubs. The drop-boxes also provide an opportunity for the Club to educate community members about the important issue of textile recycling and reuse.
"Community service and education have always been a central part of our mission as a green company with a global outlook," said Mattias Wallander CEO of USAgain. "We're thrilled to partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley as a part of that mission."
USAgain, a for-profit company based in Chicago, with offices across the country, collects unwanted clothing, shoes and textiles for recycling and resale around the world. USAgain compensates BGCSV for every pound of clothing collected.
The green and white USAgain drop-boxes are monitored and emptied once a week or more as needed. Other local businesses may host a drop-box and donate the funds to BGCSV. For more information on hosting a drop-box or to find one near you, please visit www.USAgain.com.
# # #
About USAgain
USAgain, a leader in the textile recycling industry, with corporate headquarters in Chicago, is a for-profit company that recycles and resells unwanted clothing and other textiles. In 2010 alone, the company collected 56 million pounds of discarded clothing. USAgain operates over 10,000 collection bins in fifteen states. Their mission is to provide consumers with a convenient and eco-friendly option to rid themselves of excess clothing, which are then diverted from landfills. For more information, visit www.usagain.com.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley
The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley (BGCSV) is to inspire and empower all young people, especially those who need us most, to achieve their full potential as productive, responsible and caring adults. BGCSV has been at the forefront of youth development in Santa Clara County for more than six decades, providing quality after school and summer programs for youth in predominantly low income, underserved communities. Club programs are based on a youth development strategy that builds self-confidence and self-esteem, and fosters a sense of belonging, competence, usefulness and influence. For more information, visit: www.bgclub.org.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jen Hirsch, USAgain
617-461-0522; usagain@groupsjr.com
Jennifer Makin, Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley
408-890-2914; jennifer@bgclub.org