Brooklyn has close to a third of the city’s 1,009 clothing and textile drop-off sites, according to data released by the Department of Sanitation through NYC OpenData.
These sites offer an alternative to throwing out unwanted clothing and textiles, which New Yorkers do by the tons, throwing out 200,000 tons each year according to the drop-off program’s webpage.
Following Brooklyn, which has 30.4 percent of the drop-off sites in the city, Queens has 25.8 percent (307 and 260 respectively). Staten Island has the lowest number of drop-off locations with 81 sites.
The Neighborhood Tabulation Areas designated as North Bushwick, South Bushwick, East Williamsburg and Ridgewood have a total of 32 or about 10 percent of Brooklyn’s sites, with South Bushwick having the most (16) and East Williamsburg having the least (three).
All 32 sites were operated by nonprofit organizations and thrift stores or were publicly accessible donation bins registered with the city. Donation bins make up the majority or nearly 66 percent of these sites, and the rest are operated by nonprofits.
Donation bins are available at all times. However, the program’s website warns that store and organization hours may vary, and some only accept specific items. Call ahead to confirm before heading to your nearest drop-off location.
In addition to these services, a spokesperson for the Department of Sanitation told Bushwick Daily, it is also the 10th anniversary of the ReFashion program, “which has recycled over 12,000 tons of textiles in its history.”
While pickups were suspended during the pandemic, the spokesperson continued, pickups from buildings that already have ReFashion bins have resumed, and they are now accepting applications for new bins.
In addition, clothing swaps are expected to launch across all 59 Community Board districts in the fall.
To find a drop-off near you or more resources for donating clothing and textiles, visit donateNYC.
Top photo by Nicole Allen Viana.
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