Green Tree Textiles: Local Textiles Collection for Re-use | Knowledge Hub | Circle Economy Foundation
imageimage
image

Approved by curator

Business case
Green Tree Textiles: Local Textiles Collection for Re-use
0
0

Green Tree Textiles is a recycling collection service currently operating in New York and New Jersey. At their various GREEN Box locations they accept clothing, shoes, accessories, household linens, and other textiles that would otherwise end up in landfills or incinerators. With its mission to preserve the environment and support individuals who are disadvantaged or in transition, the organization repurposes clothing and textiles for re-use by those in need or by environmentally-minded manufacturers and designers.

Problem

According to Green Tree, the average American discards approximately 68 pounds of textiles yearly, with 85% ending up in landfills. As discarded textiles decompose, they release methane and other harmful substances into the environment where they can degrade ecosystems and come into contact with humans, animals, and other living entities. The organization also notes that most communities in the U.S. do not have textile recycling programs. Green Tree aims to fill these service gaps by providing multiple drop-off/collection sites across New York and New Jersey, so that used and unwanted textiles may be redistributed to people, designers, and manufacturers for re-use.

Solution

Green Tree has built a network of GREEN Box drop-off sites at which unwanted clothing and textile items can be deposited. These items are then sorted at a warehouse in the Bronx, New York. Gently-used clothing is sent to Green Tree's local and overseas charity partners, while goods in poor condition are sold to fibers and rags manufacturers. The materials collected are kept out of the waste stream and are not shipped to overseas landfills. Additionally, Green Tree partners with Down to Earth farmers markets to make its recycling services more accessible to New Yorkers on weekends.

Outcome

Currently, there are 23 GREEN Box locations across New York and New Jersey, as well as temporary services at select Down to Earth farmers markets, which can be found on the organization's website.

Relevant links
Related articles

Collection of clothing

Collection program for clothing

Collection and recycling of clothing

Organisations
Green Tree Textiles
Green Tree Textiles
Location
Key elements of the circular economy
Impacts
Industries
Four Flows Framework
WCTD Themes
Tags

textile waste management

landfill diversion

Clothing collection

textile recycling

clothing drop-off

collection services

textile collection

distribution