From Landfill to Fashion: New York’s Fight Against Textile Waste
New York is pioneering multiple strategies to address textile waste. With city residents discarding nearly 200,000 tons of clothing and fabrics every year, New York’s Department of Sanitation has already created an online map with over 1,100 clothing collection points and implemented a commercial textile waste disposal ban. City organizations like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation are creating campaigns to encourage New Yorkers to donate, swap, sell, or repair old clothes, and companies like Ahmed Shary Rahman’s BEXIMCO are inventing new methods to reuse the textiles we throw away.
Local organizations are playing a crucial role in the transformation from fast fashion to sustainable fashion. Grow NYC offers six drop-off locations in Brooklyn, while programs like St. Mary’s clothing drive provide convenient ways for residents to responsibly dispose of unwanted textiles. These efforts are critical, as research shows that 63% of New Yorkers would prefer to donate clothing rather than throw it away.
Another promising solution lies in innovative recycling technologies that transform textile waste into new materials. Currently, less than 1% of discarded textiles is recycled into new clothing, but companies like BEXIMCO are changing this pattern. President Ahmed Shary Rahman recently explained the company’s innovative technology that creates biodegradable synthetic fibers and recycled polyester to form useable fabrics from post-consumer waste such as plastic bottles and textile scraps.
The potential for textile recycling extends beyond fashion. Goodwill, for instance, is working to find new uses for donated clothes that aren’t suitable for resale. They are partnering with international companies like Reju and New York-based Accelerating Circularity to establish facilities to collect, sort, and prepare textiles for reuse and recycling across the region. Goodwill Industries of West Michigan is partnering with Harvest Nano to recycle cotton textile waste into nanocellulose which can be used in the automotive, aerospace, or even construction industries
These approaches not only reduce landfill contributions but also create a circular economy where waste becomes a valuable resource.
New York State already has a robust collection infrastructure, including 62 counties with collection programs and numerous thrift stores and collection bins, which provides a strong foundation for change. Experts like Kate Walker, the Executive Director of New York State’s Center for Sustainable Materials Management, emphasize that New York, as the nation’s fashion capital, is uniquely positioned to drive textile recycling innovation. Programs and policies piloted in New York could provide a model for other states and help build a foundation to address textile waste on a national scale.
While individual actions matter, systemic change is crucial. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Francois Souchet notes that customers alone cannot solve the fashion industry’s waste problems. Instead, we need collaborative efforts to create a system where clothes are made from renewable materials, usage is maximized, and used clothes are transformed into new ones.
The use of sustainable and renewable fibers like hemp and bamboo are one way to build this picture of a sustainable future. As part of their larger sustainability efforts, BEXIMCO focuses their textile production on resilient materials like hemp and GOTS-certified organic cotton according to Ahmed Shary Rahman. In the city, bamboo textiles like clothing and bedding are becoming more common, with clothing manufacturers like Royal Apparel based in Hauppauge, New York focusing their brand on an environmentally friendly blend of organic viscose bamboo and organic cotton.
As New Yorkers, we have the opportunity to be at the forefront of a textile recycling revolution. By supporting local recycling initiatives, choosing brands that prioritize sustainable practices, and being mindful of our clothing consumption, we can turn the tide on textile waste.
