TEXTILE COLLECTION For Your Home Or APartment

Available to WasteNot residential members.

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The most convenient way to give your textiles a second life in Chicagoland.

  • Order

    Add Textile Collection to your service. Your textile collection bag will be delivered with your next WasteNot service.

  • Fill

    Place accepted items in your textile collection bag, making sure to fold the bag closed at the fill line.

  • Place

    On the following service day, set your filled bag out next to your WasteNot bucket in your regular pickup location.

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PARTNER HIGHLIGHT: CRADLES TO CRAYONS

Cradles to Crayons is a nonprofit working to end clothing insecurity across the country.

Through Cradles to Crayons, all collected items will either be directed to a person in need or recycled.

Learn more about the impact and importance of textile collections and recycling here.

Watch Our Partnership Video

What items can be COLLECTED?

WasteNot is able to accept new, gently used, or well-worn clothing, shoes, and textiles of all sizes. Non-textile items are not accepted in this collection program.

New or gently used items are PREFERRED. Accepted items must be CLEAN.

Any clothing that is damaged, stained, or does not meet our quality standards will be recycled.

    • Clothing & coats (all sizes)

    • New socks

    • New underwear

    • Pajamas

    • Shoes, boots, sneakers, and sandals

    • Unopened diapers, pull-ups, and diaper wipes

    • Blankets

    • S

    • heets

    • Towels

    • Rags

    • Furniture or household goods

    • Toys or baby gear

    • Stuffed animals

    • Books

    • Cribs or car seats

    • Used underwear or socks

    • Sports equipment

    • Electronics

    • Hygiene products

    • Arts and crafts

    • School supplies

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IMPACT OF TEXTILE COLLECTION & RECYCLING

Read on to see how textile collection will help to address clothing insecurity and reduce textile pollution, or check out our blog!

  • In the United States, 2 in 5 children live at or below 200% the federal poverty rate. In Chicago alone, 1 in 2 children live in low income and homeless situations. Cradles to Crayons is working to fill this critical yet overlooked need.

  • Since 2002, Cradles to Crayons has donated over 5.7 million packages to families in need across the country.

  • All items of good quality will be directed to those in need. However, if the item is of poor quality, Cradles to Crayons will be recycling to keep textile waste out of landfills.

  • Reliable and sustainable textile collection with our 100% electric vehicles.

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FAQ’s

  • You can request a bag for textile collection through the WasteNot Shop! Simply add a bag to your order and it will be dropped off on your next service date and collected the following service date.

  • Currently, all residential WasteNot members are eligible for our Textile Collection. We are not able to collect items from non-members at this time.

  • This service is an add-on to your current compost service. You can select a one-time bag through the WasteNot Shop.

  • We accept all clothes, shoes, and textiles in this program. You can see our full list of our collection do’s and don’ts here.

  • Our collected textiles are sent to our friends at Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit working to end clothing insecurity. All items of good quality will be directed to someone in need.

    Watch this video to see what happens to your collected pieces after WasteNot brings it to Cradles to Crayons.

    Interested in volunteering with Cradles to Crayons? Learn how here.

  • In order to reduce textile pollution in landfills, Cradles to Crayons will be recycling any items that do not meet their quality standards.

    However, new or gently used items are highly encouraged as they will be able to help clothe those in need.

  • Fill up your bag with accepted items. Make sure not to overfill. Crease and fold over the top of the bag at the fill line (does not need to be sealed). Place the bag on top of or near your bucket in your regular service location. Place the bag out on the service immediately following when you received the empty bag.

  • Yes, once your bag has been delivered, please fill it up and place it outside on your following service date. If there is inclement weather, hold onto your bag for an additional service.

  • If your clothing and shoes do not fit in your designated collection bag, do not overfill it. If your bag is overfilled (goes over the fill line or can't be closed), it will not be collected in order to preserve the quality of the materials. Instead, place an order for an additional collection bag, and you will receive it on your next service date. Collection bags do not need to be placed out at the same time.

  • No, we have a limit of 1 collection bag per service. If you have additional items, please order another bag for your next service date!