Thrift store rejects may yet see another life. The Pitkin County landfill has started a textile recycling program.
Cathy Hall at the Pitkin County solid waste center said the program is meant to supplement, not compete with, local thrift stores — especially because 1600 tons of textiles end up in our landfill every year.
Hall explained that any textiles — clothing, shoes, blankets, handbags, backpacks — dropped at the dump will be hauled to Denver by a company called USAgain.
“And then they either find a market where it can be resold, like a thrift store, or it gets re-manufactured into textile to make new products, or shredded up for insulation, dog beds, to make into shop rags,” Hall said.
Items can be dropped for free at the dump during operating hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
