NYCWasteLess: re-fashioNYC

I’m doing handsprings over this one:  in partnership with Housing Works, New York City has launched “Re-fashioNYC,” a program that will place clothing recycling receptacles in buildings alongside other recycling bins, making it that much easier for us to get our unwanted clothing out of landfills. What’s even better is that so many people will benefit, primarily New Yorkers struggling with AIDS and homelessness.

Housing Works, a veritable dragon of the NYC thrift store world, is spearheading the campaign in conjunction with the city.  The project is self-sustained; donations will be regularly collected from the handy bins (and yes, you can get an online donation slip for putting stuff in the bins!).  From there, it goes to Housing Works’ sorting center in Queens.  Some items will be sold in Housing Works thrift stores, some will be given to people in Haiti, some will be given to other NYC non-profits, and whatever is left over will be sold to rag companies.

It’s a huge step forward in recycling, and an impressive model for what a thrift store can do for the community and the environment, and I strongly urge all communities to consider following suit, as it were.

If you’re a building owner or tenant in NYC and want your building to participate (and really, who wouldn’t?!), simply go to the NYCWasteLess: re-fashioNYC website and fill out a request.  Hats’ off to Housing Works, and to the forward-thinking people of NYC for such a great program!

Read the full article here: NYCWasteLess: re-fashioNYC.