Q&A
Challenges and initiatives in textile waste recycling in New York City
1:26:01
·
166 sec
Council Member Abreu, on behalf of Council Member Crystal Hudson, inquires about challenges and initiatives in textile waste recycling. DSNY officials explain current programs and potential future directions.
- Textile waste comprises about 5% of residential curbside waste in 2023, down from 6.3% in 2017
- Curbside collection of textiles is challenging due to weather sensitivity; wet textiles are generally not recyclable
- DSNY focuses on programs like re:fashionNYC, which uses indoor collection bins in buildings
- The department partners with Housing Works for textile collection and resale
- DSNY facilitates textile donations through the donateNYC platform, which collected almost 4,500 tons of textiles in FY24
Shaun Abreu
1:26:01
Alright.
1:26:02
My colleague, Crystal, couldn't join Crystal Hudson, couldn't join me today, but I do wanna ask some questions on textiles.
1:26:09
Textile waste can take 100 years to break down in a landfill, creating harmful emissions in the process, 2023 textile waste comprised about 5% of residential curbside waste, down from 6.3% in 2017, and 6.2% in 2013, but up from 4.8% in 2005.
1:26:31
What does the department see as as greatest challenges with creating and potentially even expanding local textile waste recycling resources?
Joshua Goodman
1:26:40
So Kate is the expert here.
1:26:41
I'll turn it over in a second.
1:26:43
But a few things, Textile waste is a challenging stream on the operation side because curbside collection of textiles for recycling is extremely limited by the fact that if the material gets wet, it's basically not recyclable.
1:27:04
So we've looked at options around curbside, and we ran a pilot of textile curbside textile collection on Staten Island that was based on, you know, to schedule the pickup, and we would reschedule them if there was rain in the forecast.
1:27:17
It's the only stream like that where the weather that day can ruin its ability to be recycled.
1:27:24
And so that's why we've focused so far on things like the refashion and my seat program where it's a it's a bin in your building.
1:27:33
It's inside the building, and when it's fall, a vendor comes and picks it up and puts an either recycling.
1:27:38
We
Shaun Abreu
1:27:38
I have one in mind.
Joshua Goodman
1:27:39
It's a it's a great program.
Shaun Abreu
1:27:40
Where does it is.
1:27:41
And where does it go after resident deposits into every fashion bin?
Katie Kitchener
1:27:46
Yeah.
1:27:46
So the city has a contract with the local nonprofit called housing works.
1:27:50
You may have seen them.
1:27:51
And so, you know, as much as they can, they resell the clothing in their stores.
1:27:56
And then some of it goes for recycling or other uses.
Shaun Abreu
1:28:00
Would DSNY consider facilitating a clothing reuse platform to allow for the free exchange of products such as shoes?
1:28:07
That are clearly reusable.
Joshua Goodman
1:28:09
So there is a textile option on the donate NYC platform now.
1:28:14
In FY 24, it collected almost 45100 tons of textiles for donation.
1:28:25
So we we do that, and we'd be happy to work with you and continue to outreach around it.
1:28:34
And oh, and that 45100 tons through donut NYC is in addition to donations through refashion.
1:28:40
It's completely separate, which were even more.
Shaun Abreu
1:28:46
Thank you.
1:28:47
I have no further questions.
