Thu May 26, 2011
January 17, 2011 – Used clothing collection company USAgain (pronounced "use again") announces today it will roll out 25 collection bins in Michigan and Indiana next week, providing a convenient and practical solution for local residents to discard unwanted clothing, shoes, linens and other textiles. USAgain diverts millions of pounds of clothing from landfills, generating new revenue streams for local businesses and non-profits, and fueling local economies in emerging countries. In 2010 alone, the company diverted 56 million pounds of used clothes.
Michigan will become the 15th state to welcome USAgain's clothing collection bins, which will be installed in Benton, Coloma, Hartford, Watervliet, Paw Paw and Lawrence. Indiana, which has been home to USAgain bins for several years, will see bins added to Porten, Long Beach, Michigan City and Chesterton. Local residents can visit the USAgain website to locate bins near them.
USAgain's goal is to significantly bolster the diversion rate of textiles in the region. Textiles are the 7th most discarded material in the area, and as landfill costs rise, cities are supportive of new solutions. Installing USAgain textile collection bins at convenient drop-off sites enables cities to most effectively gather reusable clothing that might otherwise go to waste. USAgain is actively seeking to partner with local municipalities.
"We're excited to debut our service in Michigan and to expand our reach in Indiana," said Mattias Wallander, CEO of USAgain. "Given the enormous success of our program in other markets, we expect to directly impact the local environment and economy by helping the region responsibly dispose of millions and millions of pounds of used clothes."
In compliance with all local and state guidelines, the company will install its bins at area businesses, schools and other convenient locations. Individual business owners agree to host a bin, and in return, collect part of the proceeds generated from clothing collected on site. The host can then choose to keep the additional revenue, or donate it through USAgain to charities like the Children's Miracle Network.
USAgain collects and bundles the used textiles it collects from its bins at their local warehouse in West Chicago, and resells them in the U.S. and abroad to thrift store chains, wholesalers and graders/recyclers. USAgain operates in 15 U.S. states, including California and New York. It is headquartered in Chicago.
About USAgain
USAgain (use-again) was founded in 1999, and now operates over 8,500 collection bins in 15 states. Our mission at USAgain is simple: to provide consumers with a convenient and eco-friendly option to rid themselves of excess clothing, which we divert from wasting in landfills for resale here in the US and abroad. In 2010 alone, the company collected 56 million pounds of discarded clothing. A profitable venture headquartered in Chicago, USAgain has 170 employees. For more information, visit http://www.usagain.com.
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