Fast fashion: Georgina’s new textile recycling program cut from good cloth

Holey socks, cuddly stuffies, outdated curtains, the Borat mankini and a single shoe can all be recycled

Yorkregion.com
April 19, 2021
Amanda Persico

Georgina, together with Diabetes Canada, is offering residents a new way to get rid of unwanted textiles --textile recycling bins.

“Every year, tons of used textiles end up in our landfills as garbage when they could be put to better use,” said Mayor Margaret Quirk.

The textile recycling program aims to collect and recycle a large percentage of used textiles generated by Georgina residents each year --between 500 and 600 kilograms, which would have gone into a landfill.

What can be recycled?

• Clean, used clothing --bathing suits, coats, dresses, holey socks, single socks, clean underwear, uniforms, ripped jeans and that tattered sweatshirt from high school, along with unwelcome fashion fads --adult rompers and onesies, pleather jackets, blazers with stiff shoulder pads and the Borat mankini;

• Household textiles --oven mitts, stuffies, towels, sleeping bags, linens, cushions, outdated curtains and mismatched drapes;

• Footware --pairs or a single lost shoe, cleats, boots, slippers and loafers; and

• Clothing accessories --backpacks, gloves, tuques, belts, scarves, ties, pet clothing and purses.

 

Where are the textile recycling bins located?

• Georgina Transfer Station, 23069 Warden Ave.;

• Food Basics, 199 Simcoe Ave., Keswick;

• Green Storage, 33 Church St., Keswick; and

• UPI Gas Station, 5 Victoria Rd., Udora.

 

Future locations include the Georgina Ice Palace, Georgina Sutton Arena, Georgina Leisure Pool, Pefferlaw Ice Pad, the Canadian Tire in Keswick and Summerset Square on Dalton Road.

How much does this program cost?
Nothing.

Diabetes Canada, along with its partners, is responsible for maintaining the bins and collecting the textiles to be recycled.

In fact, the textile recycling program will save the town about $96.75 per tonne of collected waste.

What does Diabetes Canada do with the clothes and textiles collected?
Recycle, reuse and repurpose --30 per cent of collected textiles across Canada are sold in global retail markets; 25 per cent is sold in national retail outlets such as Value Village; 25 per cent is upcycled into other textile products such as bags, re-spun yarn or industrial rags; 15 per cent is turned into new products, such as insulation and upholstery filling; and 5 per cent is sent to landfills.

Also, 100 per cent of net proceeds support Diabetes Canada with diabetes research, education and children’s camp programs.