Today, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) announced that residents can now bring used clothing, shoes, sheets, and other textiles to any of DPW’s five Residential Drop-off Centers, where large blue collection bins will be available.

“This new recycling opportunity will help reduce textile waste, which is one of our fastest growing waste streams. In addition, this effort increases recycling options for residents and diverts material from the City’s landfill,” said Interim DPW Director Richard J. Luna.

DPW has partnered with HELPSY, through an agreement with the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority (NMWDA), to install the blue bins to collect textiles at each of DPW’s Residential Drop-off centers. HELPSY is a clothing collection company and a Certified B Corporation with an environmental goal to extend the useful life of clothing.  HELPSY partners with municipalities and organizations across 11 states to collect unwanted clothing while giving back to the communities they serve. 

Items placed in the blue bins that are suitable for reuse will be sorted and distributed to thrift partners in North America and around the world. Items not suitable for reuse will be recycled into new materials or products such as insulation or industrial wiper rags.

Textile recycling is easy to do! The items placed in the blue bins can be stained, worn, ripped, missing buttons, or have broken zippers. All items must be dry, however.

A full list of acceptable items for textile recycling is available on the DPW website.

Drop-off Locations

The textile recycling bins have been placed at DPW’s Residential Drop-off Centers, which are conveniently located throughout the city and are open Monday-Saturday, except for holidays observed by the City of Baltimore:

• Northwest Transfer Station, 5030 Reisterstown Road, 7 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• Quarantine Road Landfill, 6100 Quarantine Road, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Northwest Residential Drop-off Center, 2840 Sisson Street, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• Southwestern Residential Drop-off Center, 701 Reedbird Avenue, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• Eastern Residential Drop-off Center, 6101 Bowleys Lane, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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