1. Used Clothing Recovery & Reuse Industry

2. Eric Stubin Trans-Americas Textile Recycling Inc.
Vice President, SMART
Chair, Council for Textile Recycling

3. Definitions
PCTW: Post Consumer Textile Waste : USED CLOTHING, USED FOOTWEAR or USED HOUSEHOLD TEXTILES
Donated or recycled at end of life. Can include apparel, footwear and accessories and household textiles
No relation to Pre Consumer / Post Industrial Waste (which fibers converters recycle) or Excess Inventories which fall under Reverse Logistics
Secondhand Industry: Charities, Secondhand Clothing Recyclers, Fiber Recyclers and Wiper Manufactures.
SMART - Trade Association
CTR- Advocacy and educational NON PROFIT 501 C(3)
SMART does note include the charitable industry.
9/21/2018

4. Use of the Term “Recycling” Within the Textiles Industries The industry tends to use the words recycled and reused interchangeably.    The clothing that is sold in charity thrift store and sold to developing nations would be considered “reuse”   The textiles that are turned into wiping rags and the textiles that are ground up into fiber would  be considered recycled.    

5. Why are textiles important to Washington’s Municipal Recycling Efforts?

6. EPA & WASHINGTON STATE HAVE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM
5% OF WASHINGTON STATE’S DISPOSED MSW IS POST CONSUMER TEXTILE WASTE.
200,000 TONS [2013 : MSW of 4.3 Million Tons Annual Solid Waste in Washington State Status Report ]
Estimated $18 MILLION IN TIPPING FEES

7. Nationally numbers are equally concerning
9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

8. Secondhand Industry equipped to deal with real world issues…
LARGE SCALE REVERSE SUPPLY CHAIN INDUSTRY EXISTS IN US.
Consisting of both private sector and charitable options.
USA recycles 3.8 Billion lbs annually of PCTW. US E.P.A.
MANY STORES HAVE BINS/ WIDGET TO FIND CLOSEST GOODWILL
9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

9. The Original Green Industry
Our mission in the US remains constant…to recycle the vast quantities of PCTW that our society continues to generate
For more than a century in US/ EU the secondhand industry as been recycling apparel, footwear, household and accessories…Recycling before it was in vogue…
9/21/2018

10. Secondhand Clothing & footwear industry.
Reuse & recycling
Secondhand Clothing & footwear industry
9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

11. 9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

12. INDEPTH – PCTW RECYCLING FACILITIES…
Textile recycling facilities engage in labor intensive sorting, separating, and recycling of apparel, footwear, household textiles and accessories.
9/21/2018

13. Larger processors may handle more
Most Efficient facilities can process between tons per day of PCTW
= 140, ,000 units DAILY
Larger processors may handle more
9/21/2018

14. Post Consumer Textile Waste
9/21/2018

15. Labor Intensive: 1 Ton of PCTW requires 2 days of semi skilled labor
Clothing on main sorting line
Efficient Material Handling
9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

16. PCTW REUSED & RECYCLED FIBER: WIPER: USED CLOTHING:
Clothing that is converted into RECYCLED fibers and used in green products: Denim Insulation, Carpet Padding, Automotive Sound Dampening, Recycled Textiles with % of PCTW, Recycled Wool and Synthetic Fibers.
WIPER:
RECYCLED clothing cut and converted into wiping rags and used in homes and as industrial absorbents, paint, petrol industry, spill control.
USED CLOTHING:
REUSED/ REPURPOSED and Exported to the developing world where 2/3 of the population lives on less than $2 per day. Industry provides affordable clothing to the developing world.
About ½ of all wiper sale are from reclaimed fibers
9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

17. Recycled Fiber Denim Fiber Fiber Recycler 9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

18. Sweatshirts Recycled into RECLAIMED WIPERS
Reclaimed wiper sales are approx % of all sales.
9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

19. USED CLOTHING Loaded into containers bound for the developing world
Used Clothing Baled for Export
Loaded into containers bound for the developing world
9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

20. Clothing sold to market wholesalers in Haiti
9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

21. PCTW % REUSED & RECYCLED
What is items comprise the 5% waste segment?
9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

22. Why Recycle Textiles?
“The EPA estimates that between 1999 & 2011 the amount of textiles in our landfills grew by 22% from 9.1 Million Tons to 11.1 Million Tons. Yet textile diversion only grew by 2.4%, from 12.9% to 15.3%.”*
Source: EPA report on Municipal Solid Waste Facts and Figures 2011

24. Can Textiles Be Recycled?
Yes!
Can Textiles Be Recycled?
Oldest form of recycling
Annually…
Average person discards 70 lbs of clothing
SMART/charities divert 4 billion lbs. of waste
SMART is reducing the world’s carbon footprint
Only 15% of textiles currently being diverted
Remember – Donate, Recycle, Don’t Throw Away!

25. Textile Recycling Drives Economy
Revenue stream for recycling agencies
Creates jobs
Funds charitable initiatives
Promotes small business
Encourages recycled product development
Provides affordable clothing opportunity

26. Can Businesses Recycle Textiles?
Yes!
Can Businesses Recycle Textiles?
Healthcare facilities
Hotels and hospitality facilities
Textile & paper mills/manufacturers
Cut and sew plants
Textile dye facilities
Retail stores
Government agencies
Recycling textiles is EVERYONE’S business!

27. SMART’s Vision
SMART is the leading industry voice promoting high standards and best practices for reducing solid waste by recycling textiles and related secondary materials. Our members collect, reclaim, and “close the loop” by processing, converting, and distributing these recyclables.

28. What do SMART Companies Do?
Pre-consumer market
Acquire byproduct from textile/fiber companies
Repurpose material for consumer products
Wiping cloths, insulation, home furnishings…
Post-consumer market
Acquire textiles from charity & commercial lines
Once graded, clothing is recycled
Some members collect used clothing and textiles using textile recycling bins

29. SMART’s Goals Increase awareness of need to recycle textiles
Increase supply of textiles in marketplace
Decrease the amount of clothing and textiles in landfills
Offer help and expertise to government in developing programs to promote textile recycling and help find recycling company partners
Reduce cost to municipalities by reducing tipping fees associated with textile waste disposal
Capture remaining 85% of textiles that are not being recycled – Donate, Recycle, Don’t Throw Away.
Educate students about textile recycling through Recycling Rangers program for grades K-5

30. Recent SMART Initiatives - Education
Lesson Plans for Elementary Students - Grade Appropriate for students Grades K-5 - Available free from Education Center website - SMART’s Goal - reach 1 million students by 2015
Recycling Rangers Program launched November partner with teachers to host clothing drives in schools.

32. Recent SMART Initiatives - Communication
Television PSA - Community Recycling of Clothing and Textiles
- 60: second spot
Radio PSAs
- 4 versions, 30:seconds each
- Scripts include: Back-to-School; Earth Day; Spring Cleaning; End-of-the-Semester
Info graphics to help tell story about textile recycling and benefits to environment
Online Buyers Guide

35. State & Local Real World Solutions - PCTW
9/21/2018

36. WORN OR TORN CLOTHING MUST BE DONATED OR RECYCLED.
9/21/2018

37. GET STARTED COLLECTING TEXTILES
9/21/2018

38. We have a cultural model in Europe to aspire towards.
Unfortunately the USA lags behind the EU in terms of textile recycling. Although many U.S Cities and local municipalities also incorporate textiles into their recycling programs few mandate that textiles are recycled by ordinance.
We have a cultural model in Europe to aspire towards.
NJ has only 5
9/21/2018

39.
9/21/2018

40. The industry’s only vetted search tool
9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

41. Brands and Retailers already engaged in Reuse & Recycling
Patagonia GAP Burberry, EU NIKE Marks & Spencer, UK Eileen Fisher H&M LEVIS Brooks New Balance
9/21/2018

42. LEVI’S FIRST MOVERS ON WIDE SCALE REUSE & RECYCLING …others…
MANY STORES HAVE BINS/ WIDGET TO FIND CLOSEST GOODWILL
9/21/2018

43. EACH STAKEHOLDER SHARES COMMON GROUND …
EACH STAKEHOLDER SHARES COMMON GROUND ….WHERE WE CAN COLLECTIVELY IMPACT THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF PCTW…..
Apparel & Footwear Industry
Municipalities
Private Sector Recyclers
1) Increase awareness through a generic platform of “Donate/ Recycle”
2) Foster an environment where member companies can find one another to divert pctw away from our global landfills.
Academics
CTR
Consumers
Charities
Green – Producers of pctw
Blue – Solution Providers
9/21/2018

44. CTR’s URL under care instructions that will distinguish their clients as leaders in Reuse and Recycling
MANY STORES HAVE BINS/ WIDGET TO FIND CLOSEST GOODWILL
9/21/2018

45. Assistance & future trends
9/21/2018

46. Resources 9/21/2018 Council for Textile Recycling CTR
SMART – trade association.
Secondhand Materials & Recycled Textiles Association
BOOKS:
Pietra Rivoli, The Travels of T-Shirt in the Global Economy,
ISBN#
Karen Tranberg Hansen, The World of Secondhand Clothing and Zambia, ISBN#
9/21/2018
Council for Textile Recycling

47. SMART Online Buyers Guide Listing of SMART Members on www. smartasn
SMART Online Buyers Guide Listing of SMART Members on Searchable by Product Category, Region Available to Public

48. Recent SMART Initiatives - Legislative
Clothing Collection Bins in the Community
- Clothing Collection Bin Operator Code of Conduct
- Draft Ordinance Language
- Bin Position Paper
- Development of Bin Committee of SMART members to work on proactive efforts in cities and towns
- Bin Training Day at SMART Annual Convention in
March 2014 to help members work with regulators and legislators

49. ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CITIES, TOWNS, STATES TO ENCOURAGE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE RECYCLING CAMPAIGNS
North East Recycling Council (NERC) meeting in April 2013
New Hampshire Textile Diversion Training- August 2013
Michigan Recycling Association Meeting in May 2013
Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Webinar, December 2013
New Jersey Waste Wise Meeting in May 2013
NYSAR3 (New York State Recycling Organization) – Ongoing support of 2014 Textile Recycling Campaign
Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA)- June 2013
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) presentation – January 2014
Connecticut DEEP- Textile Reuse and Recycling Panel Discussion - June 2013
Washington State Recycling Association-
King County (Seattle WA) LinkUp Meeting – April 2013
March 2014
Maine Recycling Association – April 2014
SMART exhibited at ICMA (International City County Managers Association) in September 2013 to help educate cities and towns about reasonable regulation of Clothing Collection Bins.

50. How Can You Help? Provide convenient collection points
Promote textile recycling days - Earth Day (Tuesday, April 22, 2014)
- America Recycles Day (Saturday, November 15, 2014)
- End-of-the-Semester (partner with local colleges)
Include textile recycling in all public relations and promotion efforts supporting recycling programs
Help educate the recycling public about textile recycling
Encourage public agencies to use products made from recycled textiles

51. SMART Members Serving WA State Buffalo Export LLC Buffalo Industries LLC Gemtext Recycling Savers Recycling So Ex West (I:CO) USAgain Whitehouse & Schapiro

52. International Textile Recycling Summit June 2, 2014 Miami, FL SMART Co-Sponsored Event with Bureau of International Recycling (BIR)Textiles Division and Council for Textile Recycling

53. JOIN CTR TODAY: FREE TO MUNICIPAL & GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
One step I hope we take after 40 Power Point Slides and the attention of some of Washington’s Greenest officials, munis, and citizens ….
JOIN CTR TODAY: FREE TO MUNICIPAL & GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
Start an ongoing dialogue between STATE OF WASHINGTON / CTR & SMART.
9/21/2018

54. Contact SMART Jackie King, Executive Director
Additional Questions?
Eric Stubin
Contact SMART Jackie King, Executive Director
x105
Thank you!

55. FAQs cont’d IF WORKING WITH AN END USER WHAT IS PCTW WASTE WORTH?
$100 TON FLOOR PRICE / MARKET PRICE
CHARITIES & RECYCLERS?
SMART advocates for complete transparency and legislation
via Bin Policy.
Work with reputable charities.
Consumer should conduct due diligence on charities and private sector partners: recommend utilizing or
Private enterprise plays a major role in ALL recycling industries
WHAT IS THE STATE OF MUNICIPAL RECYLCING IN THE US TODAY?
9/21/2018