Press Release: USAgain’s 2013 textile recycling totals show continued growth
WILKES-BARRE, PA. – Pennsylvania residents diverted 5.2 million pounds of clothing and shoes away from landfills in 2013, according to the Wilkes-Barre-based textile recycler USAgain, demonstrating that convenience plays a key role in the continued growth of people recycling their unwanted clothing and shoes.
By diverting 5.2 million pounds of textiles from landfills, USAgain and its patrons saved 36.5 million pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, over 7.3 billion gallons of water, and 29,836 cubic yards of landfill space. That’s enough to fill 1,194 garbage trucks.
With more than 14,000 recycling locations nationwide, USAgain provides local communities with a convenient option for discarding their unwanted clothing in an environmentally responsible manner.
“It’s great to see continued progress toward textile recycling and a growing recognition of the importance of keeping textiles out of landfills, which saves our planet’s precious resources,” said Mattias Wallander, CEO of USAgain. “We’re looking forward to making even greater strides toward reducing waste in 2014.”
Although nearly all clothing and shoes can be re-used, Americans currently recycle just 15 percent of their clothing, with the rest – a total of more than 11 million tons – ending up in the garbage, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“A big picture goal of ours is to partner with more schools, municipalities and businesses to increase the textile recycling rate to 75 percent,” Wallander said. “Doing this would bring tremendous impacts in terms of resources conserved and carbon dioxide sequestered.”
Nationally, USAgain recycled a total of 55 million pounds of textiles. In addition, USAgain planted more than 200,000 trees around the globe in 2013, most in partnership with Trees for the Future, an agroforestry organization. The trees will serve to sequester carbon emissions and repair damaged ecosystems, helping to make the planet a greener, more inhabitable place.
For 2013 recycling information specific to USAgain’s national divisions, visit www.usagain.com/press-releases.
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About USAgain
USAgain – a leader in the textile recycling industry – is a for-profit company that collects clothing and other textiles for recycling and reuse. Its mission is to provide consumers with a convenient and eco-friendly option to rid themselves of unwanted clothing and shoes, which is diverted from landfills. Recognized by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, USAgain maintains more than 14,000 collection bins in 19 states.
