NYC TO LOSE ONE MILLION POUNDS, WITH RESIDENTS’ HELP

Recycling Initiative Aims to Cut City’s Waste

Each year the average New Yorker tosses nearly 50 pounds of textiles such as old clothing, towels and shoes in the household trash, costing taxpayers and the environment.  Since 2007, GrowNYC  has helped to keep more than 750,000 pounds of material from hitting area landfills by collecting materials at several of its Greenmarket locations.  Instead of going to waste, materials are sorted and redistributed to secondhand clothing markets, rag makers and fiber recyclers. 

Now, the gloves (and shirts, socks and sheets) are coming off.  GrowNYC’s Million Pound Challenge calls on New Yorkers to empty their closets of unwanted and worn out garments.  Materials can be dropped off at one of 8 weekly Greenmarkets in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.   The group is also hosting a one-day textiles recycling event during its New Green City eco-fair on September 29 at Union Square. 

“When the City published the findings of its comprehensive Waste Characterization Study in 2006 we were shocked to see that 6% of our waste consists of textiles—this is after residents have sifted out items to donate to their favorite charities,” said Marcel Van Ooyen, GrowNYC’s Executive Director. 

“There is no easier way to reduce NYC’s waste in such a significant way than adding textiles to your recycling routine,” Van Ooyen added.  “Our collections are unique in that we’ll take all of your clean, dry, unwanted textiles.  No more uncertainty about what to do with those bleach-stained towels.”

With the Million Pound Challenge, GrowNYC hopes to reach more New Yorkers looking to clear out their clutter without trashing the environment—and there are rewards, as well.  Each ton of material kept out of the trash represents a savings to taxpayers, who foot the bill for sending discards to out of state landfills where they can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. 

The challenge also happens to fall during harvest season, when the markets are bursting with just-picked local produce.  “Greenmarkets are community centers of sustainability. We know the material is out there, and what better way to promote recycling than invite our shoppers to come to market with their bags of unwanted textiles, and go home with bags of fresh produce grown by regional farmers,” said Michael Hurwitz, Director of GrowNYC’s Greenmarket program.    

For more information visit www.GrowNYC.org or call 212-788-7964.