cloth recycling?

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

I have some clothing, bed sheets, etc that aren't "lightly used" They are worn, some of them have holes, etc. Goodwill doesn't want them because evidently they have to pay to recycle unusable clothing, and I have no desire to make Goodwill PAY money...

I'm sure that *SOME* of my stuff is usable by someone, but I'm even more sure that the rest of it can be shredded and turned into rags, or futon stuffing, or something useful. Does anyone know where I can do this? My Google fu is weak, the Somerville web page doesn't appear to say anything useful, and MBTA just says not to leave them touching the 3rd rail...

does anyone have any suggestions?

ETA: I suppose some crafter might want them as well, but that seems less likely to me...

Comments

[ron_newman]

You asked this back in 2009 also, but I don't know if any of those answers are still useful today. (found it by searching this tag for the word "rags")

The most useful response back then was from Second Chances. Their web site doesn't seem to be working at the moment, so I'll throw in a link to their Google cache page for clothing donation.

*some* of the stuff, yep

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

I cut up bedsheets and curtains and duvet-covers for making dress patterns; I would be glad to take the bedsheets (non-flannel) off of your hands. I'll be in town this weekend; if you'd be ok with my picking the stuff up from a front porch or something, say this coming Sunday morning, I could make the bedsheets disappear. Friday might also be possible.

Also, if you happened to have old silk dresses or wedding dresses or crinolines, I could use those too. ;-)

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

ah. I only looked back 1 year, not two in the archives... D'oh.

I hate it when the best answer to a question is in response to me having asked the same question before B-/

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

Looking back, I see several references to GoodWill, which doesn't want them, and some pointers to animal shelters, which I'll now look into...

Also, does Second Chances still exist? Their web page seems to not be responding.

Re: *some* of the stuff, yep

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

sure! The sheets a pretty warn, and have some holes, but maybe still useful to you....

PM me and we can discuss!

[ron_newman]

The cache refers to recent and upcoming events this spring, so they must still exist.

Edit: seems to be back now, try the 'Donate Clothing' page. It says they will have a clothing drive on June 22, 2011 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Somerville Community Growing Center - details in early June.

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

I'm always in need of T-shirt/jersey cotton to use for rags in my art studio. I'll happily pick up a bag of that kind of material off your porch anywhere in s'ville. Drop me a line if I can come and pick that sort of thing up from you.

Sheets don't work as well for me-- something about the way the material is treated keeps them from absorbing. Even jersey-sheets seem to resist liquids... handy for sheets, but not so awesome for rags.

[enveri.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I'll keep that in mind! My husband has a stash of tee shirts in our 'if you haven't worn it in 6 months, out it goes' pile, and... quite a few of them are a little too well-loved to go to Good Will.

To the OP- Many vet clinics and animal shelters will take donations of towels and cotton clothes for use as bedding. Worth checking? :)

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Last I heard, PlanetAid (with the drop bins) can take unwearable clothes/unusable linens, and sell them for use as rags.

[ron_newman]

However, Planet Aid is a fraudulent organization and not a legitimate charity. Read more about them at Tvind Alert or check some of the google results.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

I have no reason to suspect that they're lying about their use of rags. I highly doubt they're profiting overmuch from the occasional bag of stained/ripped clothing I put in their bins. I'm not concerned.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

I keep forgetting about this. If I can remember, I'll probably be able to keep you supplied single-handedly from my client castoffs.

[ron_newman]

before you replied, I was about to link in this Boston Globe article from 2002

Second Chances strikes me as an all-around better choice, being local and accountable and legitimately non-profit.

Re: *some* of the stuff, yep

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

LJ message sent! (I don't do PM). The servers are seemingly wonky again (probably Russian mafia trying to shut things down) but it did confirm that the message was sent...

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

ah. ok, I knew one of the bins places was not a charity, but I didn't remember which one...

However, if it comes down to it, between Planet aid getting a little bit of money for (presumably) recycling my rags vs either Goodwill PAYING to recycle them, or me just throwing them out, I'll let Planet aid make some money.

I'd rather give them to 2nd chance, if I can get their website to load...

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

I was always under the impression that goodwill also made a small amount of money selling unwearable stuff for rags. did they specifically say they didn't want them?

Re: *some* of the stuff, yep

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

i thought an lj message was the same thing as 'pm me' since for most it just translates to "private message" [me]...?

no real reason, just curious :)

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

i was going to ask this too (WRT shelters) - i wasn't sure if places were still on 'only things you can hose down', heh.

(i know when i had my foster/adopted guy a near unlimited supply of this stuff was very helpful!)

hello

[2ndchancesinc.livejournal.com]

I think I heard our name mentioned ...

The website was down for a very short time today. Not sure why, but yes, we are still in existence, and yes, we can be sure that your rags get recycled. The donation bins at the Prospect Street and River Street Whole Foods are ours, and we are having a clothing drive at the Somerville Community Growing Center in late June.

Details at www.secondchances.org/donateClothing.htm

We'd love to have a donation bin in Davis Square (or anywhere in Somerville), so if you have a local business or real estate with outdoor space we can occupy, please get in touch.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

I don't know if they said that to this poster, but they told me they don't do the rag thing anymore because it's no longer cost-neutral for them.

Re: *some* of the stuff, yep

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

yeah, that's what I meant. I think she thought I meant Instant Message.. but it's all good.

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

yeah. I think that they still DO do the rag thing, just because they'd rather do that than throw out clothes that they can't use, but they have to PAY money for it...

At least that's what they told me...

Re: *some* of the stuff, yep

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

just checking.

sometimes i'm behind the times since i'm horribly broke and thusly, all of my technology is pitifully outdated :p

Planet Aid scam?

[skookum2.livejournal.com]

You are absolutely correct, Ron. Planet Aid is said to have well-documented links to a far-left political cult from Denmark called *Tvind* or *Teachers Group* (TG). One TG leader is currently in a Danish prison after being convicted of fraud while five of his comrades are wanted by Danish authorities in connection with a US$22 million tax fraud and embezzlement scheme.

Here are a just a few news investigations on Planet Aid:

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/investigative/051209_fox_5_investigation_planet_aid

The follow-up to the above story:

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/investigative/060909_planet_aid_denies_cult_connection

And a montage of other unfavorable reports on Planet Aid:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdwixi_planet-aid-under-investigation_news

Some donation bins ARE for legitimate charities. Sadly, these days one must research before giving.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Yes, what you said. What I should have said was "They don't want, and strongly discourage, donations of rags and unwearable clothes, because it now costs them money to process them."

[belladonna.livejournal.com]

Just FYI for anyone who might be cruising this post who ALSO have bedsheets/towels/blankets, the MSPCA in JP gladly accepts donations of those kinds of items.

Re: hello

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Might I suggest that you make a separate post about this? Not sure how many folks will see it otherwise...

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised no one has mention Pets in Need http://animal-adoptions.org/

They are located in Somerville and use old blankets, towels etc for their animals.

Re: hello

[msiebler.livejournal.com]

I hate to ask; but is there a way to have a donation bin that doesn't turn into a ugly trash dump for jerks? The goodwill is bad enough; their doorway is always full of junk after hours; and the bins i see around town from other organizations always are overflowing w/ crap.
I realize this isn't really your fault.

Re: hello

[2ndchancesinc.livejournal.com]

Picking up the donation bins regularly and being local/aware/responsive helps, but some people are going to do inconsiderate things no matter what, unfortunately.