For Municipalities

For the Woodbridge Mall event this November 6 & 7, municipalities from across New Jersey are partnering with local clothing drives as part of this one-of-a-kind sustainable clothing recycling event. Recycling clothing, shoes, and other textiles is not only is it great for the environment, it can save $1,000s for local and state taxpayers.

For more information on how your municipality can be a part of this event, click here.

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Outside of this event, the Re-Purpose New Jersey (RNJ) program will save your town thousands of dollars each year by removing clothing, shoes and other textiles from being dumped in open landfills along the Raritan River. For this campaign, we ask nothing from you except to use small, underutilized areas on your properties to place our clothing donation bins. This unique program costs your town nothing, yet the cost savings are extraordinary.

On average, textiles compose 3 percent of waste. Considering landfill costs average $60 per ton, the costs can add up quickly for a town like yours. Those costs skyrocket even more during the spring cleaning season, when extra clothing, shoes and bedding are haphazardly disposed at even greater proportions in the waste stream. The town of Edison, for example, spends nearly $200,000 each year on landfill costs for textiles alone.

Beyond the direct savings, your town will also earn recycling credits towards state recycling grants. RNJ’s pioneering re-purposing of textiles will assure that your town is far ahead of the game when this legislature becomes mandated – as expected in 2010 or 2011. And Re-Purpose New Jersey has the support of state and federal elected officials, regulators, and corporate sustainability leaders.

By “repurposing” textiles to keep them out of landfills, RNJ can cover all of your town’s textile collection needs by placing and servicing textile recycling bins at key locations like public works facilities, community centers, libraries, and parks – with management and maintenance costs handled solely by RNJ. Re-Purpose New Jersey is unique in that it saves your town significant money from day one—and costs you and your taxpayers nothing.

FAQs

1. Why should my municipality take part in Re-Purpose New Jersey?

Re-Purpose New Jersey would not cost your municipality a dime. However, you stand to save millions of dollars in landfill costs by recycling these materials and will also earn major credits towards valuable state recycling grants. You may also be able to write off the space donated as a tax-deductible donation.

2. Do textiles really cost our taxpayers millions of dollars?

On average, textiles constitute 3 percent of all landfill use. And with municipalities paying $60 per ton in landfill costs, the savings from textile recycling can add up quickly. The town of Edison, for example, spends nearly $200,000 each year on landfill costs for textiles alone.

3. How does my town earn state recycling credits?

Re-Purpose New Jersey will provide your city/town with a receipt of total pounds of textiles recycled monthly. This information earns major recycling credits towards valuable New Jersey state recycling grants.

4. Who services the textile recycling bins?

Re-Purpose New Jersey takes full responsibility for emptying the textile recycling bins every week, and more often if needed.

5. What items can be placed in the bins?

We accept all textiles, including clothing, shoes, bedding, and stuffed animals.

6. What happens after the textiles are picked up?

All textiles are resold to a distributor with proceeds going to well-established local 501(c)3 non-profit organizations.

7. Are the clothing donation bins fully insured?

Yes, the clothing bins are fully covered. We will provide your town with an insurance waiver upon signing the attached form.

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