Textile Recycling

Textile Recycling Available at DPW Residential Drop-off Centers

Baltimore City residents can bring used clothing and other textiles to any of DPW’s five Residential Drop-off Centers. Baltimore City residents can now recycle clothes, shoes, sheets, towels and other household items.

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.

Textile Recycling is Easy to Do!

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 image

What’s Acceptable

The items placed in the blue bins can be stained, worn out, ripped, missing buttons, or have broken zippers. All items must be dry, however.

Below is a list of Acceptable Materials that are included in this new program:


Clothing
Tops, Sweaters, Sweatshirts
Dresses
Outerwear
Bottoms (pants, slacks, jeans, sweatpants, skirts, shorts, leggings, etc.)
Suits
Pajamas
Socks, tights, stockings, nylons, hosiery, pantyhose
Intimates (bras, underwear, socks)
Baby clothes
Footwear
Heels
Boots
Sneakers
Cleats/spikes
Slippers
Accessories
Hats
Bags (handbags, backpacks, duffle bags, totes, cloth shopping bags)
Gloves
Ties, scarves
Bathrobes
Jewelry including watches and sunglasses
Linens
Sheets/pillowcases
Blankets/quilts
Comforters
Curtains/Drapes
Aprons
Dish cloths/cloth napkins
Table linens
Other
Suitcases/luggage
Swimwear/bathing suits
Leather items, fur clothing items and fake fur/leather clothing items
Stuffed animals/toys
Sports jerseys/uniforms
Halloween or other costumes
Slip covers and other furniture coverings

Drop-off Locations

The textile recycling bins are located 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.