East Aurora Advertiser

Column: Rags To RichesFree Access



The next time you’re cleaning out your closets there are good reasons to choose the charity bin instead of the trash bin. Donating used clothing isn’t just a nice thing to do for others – it also creates jobs and helps save the planet. If every one of us donated just one, 22 pound bag, that would keep 55 million pounds out of our landfills! 

According to the EPA, 85 percent of clothing in the U.S. is thrown in the garbage each year. That’s 34.5 billion pounds sent to landfills and 245 million pounds in Western New York alone. 

There are enormous economic benefits to textile recovery. According to studies completed by the EPA and the Council For Textile Recycling, the market value of discarded textiles exceeds $130 million. Over 1,000 jobs could be created in NYS if our used clothes were recovered for reuse and recycling. 

The thrift industry alone employs nearly 100,000 workers in the USA with over $1 billion in wages. Private sector recyclers create an additional 15,000 to 20,000 jobs nationally. Primary and secondary recyclers account for annual gross sales in excess of $700 million. 

Recycling textiles doesn’t just stop at clothes – many collectors will accept footwear, bedding, curtains, stuffed animals, and other items in addition to clothing – including rags and sewing scraps. 

Did you ever wonder what happens to your donated clothing once you drop it off and drive away? 

The answer is better than you may think: 

-10 to 20 percent of your donation will end up at a thrift store such as Amvets, Goodwill or the Salvation Army. They earn revenue by selling your used goods. 

-80 percent is resold to recyclers. The income goes to the charities sponsoring the collection bins. 

Textile recyclers then sort and separate these materials into three types: 45 percent is exported as secondhand clothing; 30 percent is recycled and converted (e.g. reclaimed wiping rags are used as industrial and residential absorbents). The remaining 20 percent is recycled into fiber. This post consumer fiber is used to make home insulation, carpet padding and raw material for the automotive industry. 

Your used clothing goes through this entire process in just 30-60 days and only 5 percent of your donation ends up as waste! 

Items can usually be donated in any condition as long as they are clean, dry, and odorless. Not all textile collectors and events will accept everything so always check with the collector first. Below are a list of locations:

Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Child/adult clothing w/o stains/tears, scarves, gloves, blankets, sheets w/o stains/rips 

-Immaculate Conception Church 520 Oakwood Ave, East Aurora 

-St. Vincent de Paul Church 6441 Seneca St., Springbrook 

-St. George Church 74 Old Glenwood Rd., West Falls 

-St. Gabriel Church 5271 Clinton St., Elma 

St. Pauly Textile, Inc. – Clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts, purses, linens, pillowcases, blankets, curtains, stuffed animals. 

-First Baptist Church of East Aurora 591 Porterville Rd.,

-East Aurora First Presbyterian Church of East Aurora 9 Paine St., East Aurora

-Town of Elma 600 Creek Rd. Transfer Station, Elma 

-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 360 Main St., Elma 

-Marilla Fire Company 1950 West Ave, Marilla 

-My Father’s House 140 Brook Dr. Marilla 

-Holland Central School District PTO 173 Canada St., 

-Holland Pathways Christian Fellowship Church @ South Wales Community Center 6387 Olean Road, South Wales 

Hearts For the Homeless – Footwear, single or in pairs, clothing, accessories, linens, rags, stuffed animals, Halloween costumes, wedding dresses 

-Karts and Parts 667 Oakwood Ave., 

-East Aurora Parkdale Elementary School 141 Girard Ave., 

-East Aurora Living Water Fellowship 680 Maple Rd, East Aurora 

-St. Nicodemus Lutheran Church 12029 Liberia Rd., East Aurora 

-Valero Bob’s Deli 1045 Davis Rd., West Falls 

-Boys and Girls Club of EMW 2080 Girdle Rd., Elma 

-ARB Heating & Cooling 7338 Olean Rd., Holland 

Amvets Thrift Store – Rags, sewing scraps, clothing, linens, footwear, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves. Located at 1900 Ridge Rd., West Seneca 

Goodwill Store & Donation Center – Clothing, shoes and boots, jewelry, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves. Located at Seneca Ridge Plaza, West Seneca

Savers Thrift Store – Hats, mittens, scarves, ties, socks, purses, wallets, backpacks, bags, clothing, shoes, stuffed animals, bed/bath towels, sheets, blankets, pillows, curtains, tablecloths. Located at 3701 McKinley Pkwy, Hamburg 

Walk in Closet Consignment – Women, men, kids clothes, accessories, purses, shoes, belts, jewelry. Located 650 E. Main St. Rear, East Aurora 

 

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Aurorans for Climate and Environmental Sense (ACES) is a citizen group started in 2012 to support the East Aurora Village Climate Smart initiative. Its mission is to engage all residents of greater East Aurora to help East Aurora become a Climate Smart Community through education, planning and action. For more information, email jweide7170@aol.com.

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