The City of Salem is partnering with HELPSY to offer free curbside pick-up of clothing and household textiles for recycling starting on April 24. Pick-ups will take place weekly on Saturdays and residents must make an appointment in advance to have their items picked up. According to the EPA, 81 pounds of clothing get thrown away by the average person every year. Of that amount, 95% of those items can be recycled. HELPSY is the largest clothing collector in the Northeast and partners with municipalities and organizations across ten states to collect unwanted clothing and other textiles. HELPSY is dedicated to changing the way people think about clothing recycling while adhering to the highest level of social and environmental performance, earning the company a Certified B Corporation designation.
HELPSY accepts clean, dry, and bagged clothing and fashion accessories including dresses, shirts, pants, suits, coats, gloves, hats, belts, ties, scarves, wallets, purses, backpacks, totes, shoes, towels, bedding, costumes, curtains, placements, pillows, stuffed animals, tablecloths, and throw rugs. These items will be accepted in any condition, stained, worn or torn, missing pairs or buttons, or with holes. HELPSY will not accept breakable houseware or glass, electronics, furniture, building material, scrap metal, appliances, mattresses, encyclopedia sets, phone books, or magazines.
“As a designated Green Community, Salem is dedicated to strengthening our commitment to recycling efforts,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll. “Our recurring textile recycling events are always successful, but by expanding that into this new free curbside service, which will take place all year round, we’re making it even more convenient for residents to recycle textile items. This will help reduce the volume of our solid waste, saving money on trash disposal, as well as better meeting our community’s sustainability goals.”
“We are excited to offer a convenient way for residents to dispose of old clothing sustainably” says Micaela Guglielmi, Waste Reduction Coordinator for the City. “Between collection bins, clothing drives, and now this curbside collection service, there is no reason for textiles to end up in the trash.”
Simply go to www.helpsy.co/SalemMA and fill out the pick-up request form. Several pickup dates will be offered to choose from. Donations can be left at the curb prior to 7:00 a.m. on the date chosen and HELPSY will come pick up your donation.