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Kick fashion to the curb, not the landfill

New Simcoe County curbside textile collection program begins this June
CoS Textile Bag
Simcoe County households will receive a textile collection bag through Canada Post this month. Supplied photo

NEWS RELEASE
COUNTY OF SIMCOE
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Do you have used textiles that can’t be passed on? Fashion doesn’t expire, nor does it belong in the garbage, so the County of Simcoe is introducing a new curbside collection program for textiles to help divert these materials out of landfills.

Simcoe County residents will receive one textile collection this June, with half the County receiving pick-up June 11-15 (Zone 1) and the other half receiving pick-up June 18-22 (Zone 2). Visit here or check out your waste calendar to determine your collection week.

Similar to leaf and yard waste collection, pick-up does not necessarily coincide with your regular collection day. Items should be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your collection week.

All Simcoe County households will receive a textile collection bag through Canada Post in mid to late May. Any additional clothing can be placed in a clear plastic bag and set beside the textile bag provided. Bags must be sealed, textiles must be clean, dry and odour free.

“Look for your pink collection bag in the mail and help us recycle textiles and keep these materials out of our landfills,” said Warden Gerry Marshall. “We’ve experienced tremendous participation rates with our curbside battery collection program and we’re hopeful this convenient new option will have similar results.”

Accepted textile materials include:

  • Used clean clothing and undergarments
  • Towels and linens (pillows)
  • Coats and outerwear
  • Hats, belts and scarves
  • Purses, backpacks, sleeping bags and luggage
  • Socks, mittens and shoes in pairs (wrap with elastic to hold together)

The County encourages residents to donate usable clothing and apparel whenever possible. The purpose of this program is to collect textiles that wouldn't otherwise be passed on, including those items with stains, tears and broken zippers.

All textiles being collected will be sent to a facility for sorting and grading and then re-used. Those items not re-usable are made into rags and acoustic fill.

DYK:

  • The average person discards 37 kg of textiles each year which equates to over 11,000 tonnes of textiles in the County of Simcoe annually
  • Eighty-five per cent of discarded textiles end up in landfill with only 15 per cent of textiles being donated
  • Textiles currently use significant landfill capacity and the decomposition time can be lengthy
  • Ninety-eight per cent of standard textile material thrown away is able to be re-used/recycled

A new curbside collection program for electronics will also run in September. Visit here for details.

County of Simcoe is composed of 16 member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.

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