LYNN — The city is seeking to reduce textile waste by educating residents on the topic, and encouraging them to recycle clothes and other items.
“Textiles include items such as bedding, undergarments, coats, table linen, purses, clothing, curtains, towels, footwear and fabrics,” Department of Public Works Associate Commissioner Lisa Nerich said. “Textiles can be reused, repurposed or recycled. Even textile items that are worn, torn, or stained can be recycled.”
In April, the city’s initiative spurred residents to divert 170 pounds of clothes from trash, after they diverted 118 pounds in March.
This recycling initiative in Lynn came after the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection added textiles to its list of prohibited items that can not be disposed of through landfills and incinerators, she said.
“We knew we needed to make a change,” Nerich said. “We quickly saw the benefits of educating residents on how they can divert their textiles from the waste stream.”
Recently, the city partnered with Helpsy, a textile-collection company, to work on recycling clothes. The contract between the city and Helpsy is revenue-generating, Helpsy Chief of Staff Lisa Sciannella said.
“We pay per pound of textiles that we collect, which is great, and then we’re also saving them on waste disposal tipping fees, by keeping the clothes out of the trash,” Sciannella said. “Municipalities are no longer paying those waste-disposal fees.”
Once Helpsy receives the clothes, the company works on reselling them. Helpsy works with thrift stores and has its own open houses to sell the clothing.
“Our goal is to extend the useful life of clothing, so kind of matching up the garment with its best end use,” Sciannella said.
Residents can either schedule an at-home pickup with Helpsy or take donations to the company’s bins around Lynn. The donation bins are located at the Sewell-Anderson School and Pickering Middle School.
Helpsy accepts all textiles, as long as they are dry and odorless, Sciannella said.
Along with recycling their textiles through Helpsy, residents can do so on Covanta Day. Once a month, they can drop off items at the Covanta transfer station on Commercial Street for proper disposal.
Mayor Jared Nicholson said Lynn is “committed” to reducing textile waste, “embracing” alternatives that are sustainable, and encouraging “green-thinking” in the community.
“By increasing resources for reducing textile waste, such as a curbside pick-up option, we make it easier for residents to be a part of the solution in our environmental efforts,” Nicholson said.
The city is planning on keeping this initiative going, Nerich said.
“We’ve seen how beneficial this program is for the environment, the city and the residents of Lynn,” she said.
