The coronavirus pandemic is disrupting Rhode Island’s waste, recycling, and composting services and some donation services. Used clothing and textile services have been hardest hit. The collection and sales of clothes, shoes, and household items were suspended in Massachusetts as a nonessential service, prompting the closure of retailers and related services. Savers thrift stores have temporarily shuttered in Rhode Island and across southern New England, hurting its nonprofit partners that sell them used items. One casualty, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island, had to layoff of two-thirds of its workforce because of the financial stream it relies on from Savers.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is still picking up textiles by appointment, and its drop-off centers are open. The Salvation Army suspended its used clothing pick-up service.Drop-off bins offered by The Salvation Army, Goodwill Southern New England, and others are still open and being serviced.
The “nonessential” tag in Massachusetts caused Simple Recycling to temporarily halt its curbside textile pickup in Rhode Island, where the service is offered through a partnership with municipalities such as Coventry and Middletown.
Composting
Food-scrap collection services Rhodeside Revival and Bootstrap Compost have suspended pick-up service until the global pandemic subsides. The companies are urging customers to use local drop-offs hubs.