Raleigh’s textile recycling program stopped during the pandemic. What happened?

Kimberly Cataudella
·1 min read

A curbside textile recycling program, launched in Raleigh in February 2018, was stopped at the beginning of the pandemic and has not resumed.

The program was available to residents of single-family homes through a partnership with a private company, and it allowed residents to recycle clothing, shoes and more.

Why was the program stopped and will it ever resume?

Here’s what we learned about the history of Raleigh’s textile recycling program, along with information about textile recycling today.

History of Raleigh’s curbside textile recycling program

In partnership with the private, for profit recycling company Simple Recycling, the City of Raleigh allowed residents of single-family homes to place textiles — items like clothing, bedsheets and backpacks — in a bright orange bag beside their curbside recycling bin on pick-up day.

By July 2019, nearly 155 tons of textile material had been recycled through this program, and the City of Raleigh generated over $3,000 in revenue, according to a City of Raleigh report.

In 2020, the program stopped.

“The servicing partner, Simple Recycling, ceased operations in Raleigh, and the pilot program was terminated during the pandemic,” said Maine Johnson, communication analyst for Raleigh’s Solid Waste Services Department.

What to do with old textiles & clothing in Raleigh

All 11 Wake County Convenience Centers accept clothing, along with shoes, hats, purses and more. These items are repurposed by a Durham company called Green Zone, so they should be usable. These items cannot be brought to Multi-Material Recycling Facilities.

There are four Convenience Centers in Raleigh:

  • Site 1: 10505 Old Stage Rd.

  • Site 4: 3600 Yates Mill Pond Rd.

  • Site 5: 8401 Battle Bridge Rd.

  • Site 7: 9024 Deponie Dr.

For more information, visit wake.gov and search “Convenience Centers.”