Textile Recycling
Textile Recycling Program
The Village of Palatine approved a textile recycling program through Simple Recycling to Palatine residents in March 2022. This program will take effect Monday March 28, 2022.
The textile recycling program provides free year-round textile collection via a reservation system. Residents may request a pickup via Simple Recycling's website (https://simplerecycling.com/) or phone number (866-835-5068). Recyclables are placed in a bag or box outside the resident's front door at the designated reservation time. This program is free and waste haulers are ok with the program because it keeps textiles out of their recycling facilities.
Simple Recycling has programs in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Texas, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Minnesota. Elgin was the first city to start the program in Illinois, beginning July 10, 2017, and several other municipalities in the area have now signed contracts.
Simple Recycling sends their material to a thrift store facility in Chicago, where roughly 30% of the material is destined to local thrift stores, 30% is appropriate for overseas markets, and the remainder is shredded into insulation and fiber for industrial wipers. While charities do collect the same type of material, Americans are still throwing away 85% of clothing and textiles even with all the charitable donation opportunities, so there is a lot of room for improvement. A contract with Simple Recycling would not prevent any resident from donating material to their favorite charity. In addition, Simple Recycling is a private company so it cannot give a receipt for a tax deduction; therefore, residents seeking that deduction can still contribute to a charity.
Acceptable Materials
Simple Recycling will accept the following materials of individual weight less than fifty (50) pounds and able to be carried by one person: men’s, women’s and children’s clothing as well as items such as jewelry, shoes, purses, hats, toys, pictures, mirrors, blankets, drapes and curtains, pillows, rags, sewing scraps, sleeping bags, small furniture, small appliances, irons, radios and audio equipment, cameras, lamps, hairdryers, tools, toasters, microwaves, coffee makers, silverware, dishes, pots and pans, glasses and the like.
Questions/Concerns
If you have a question about the program, you can contact Simple Recycling at (866) 835-5068 or visit their website.