Schools across U.S. to compete in clothing recycling contest

Tue April 1, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                 

Schools across U.S. to compete in clothing recycling contest

USAgain announces Earth Month Challenge, will award cash prizes

CHICAGO (April 1, 2014) - Today, USAgain, the textile recycling company, is launching the Earth Month Challenge, a month-long recycling drive in April for schools to recycle textiles and earn cash prizes.

Over 650 schools nationwide will participate in the contest, with cash prizes going to the five schools that collect the most clothing in pounds. The grand prize is $1,000, with runner-up prizes of $750, $500, $250 and $100. USAgain seeks to educate students on recycling while highlighting Earth Month, which coincides with the contest.

“Earth Month is a great opportunity for us to give back to schools while promoting recycling,” said Mattias Wallander, CEO of USAgain. “As a recycling company, it’s our job to illustrate the importance of saving valuable resources and reducing waste.”

This year will mark the 9th annual Earth Month Challenge. Past winners include Alpha Montessori School in Westchester, IL and Picasso Preschool in El Granada, CA. The contest is open to both public and private schools of all ages.

The goal of the contest and USAgain as a whole is to reduce the amount of textile waste. According to the U.S. EPA, over 11 million tons of textiles are trashed annually. On the individual level, the average American throws away 68 pounds of clothing per year, virtually all of which can be reused or recycled. When textiles are diverted from the trash, valuable resources are kept in use, carbon dioxide emissions are reduced and landfill space is saved. 

To learn more and to sign your school up for the Earth Month Challenge, visit www.usagain.com/earth-month

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About USAgain

USAgain – a leader in the textile recycling industry – is a for-profit company with a mission of diverting textiles from landfills. USAgain’s green and white recycling bins provide communities with a convenient way to dispose of surplus clothing and give it a second life. In 2013, USAgain collected 55 million pounds of textiles for reuse and recycling. USAgain operates over 14,000 recycling bins in 19 states and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. For more information, visit www.usagain.com