The EPA estimates that 5% of landfill space is occupied with textiles that could be put into the recycling stream. The average household disposes of 70 pounds of clothing and shoes a year in their household trash. The textile recycling industry, while growing yearly is only recycling 15% or an estimated 3.8 billion pounds per year. The goal of the textile recycling industry is 100% recycling by 2037.

This will be accomplished by the municipalities pitching in to encourage textile recycling. Phoenix is now among a growing number of municipalities throughout the country seeking a solution for textile disposal. Phoenix is currently awaiting bids from companies that will do curbside pickup of textiles. Proposals are due next month and Phoenix is contemplating getting the curbside textile recovery system up and running with little or no cost to the Phoenix taxpayers.

When this program is rolled out Phoenix officials are looking to bring multiple benefits to the residents. Companies that bid on the curbside textile recycling will pay the city by the ton. Phoenix is making plans to save 35 million pounds of landfill space. As a side benefit, the curbside textile recycling program will improve the current recycling program throughout the city. The Phoenix Department of Public Works notes that textiles are the largest contaminant found in the current recycling stream. A robust curbside textile recycling plan could have benefits in terms of money, landfill space, and cleaner sellable recyclables. Donating usable clothes and shoes to be reused will still be a priority, but for the rest of the textiles that end up in landfills, the goal will be to have them recycled and repurposed.