The Iowa County Landfill has launched a pilot textile recycling program for clothes and shoes. Items do not have to be in good condition, but they must be clean and dry. The landfill started this program to increase access to textile recycling in Iowa County and prevent more valuable material from entering the landfill.
Approximately 5 percent of waste in Iowa’s landfills is textiles according to the 2022 Iowa Waste Characterization Study. In Iowa County, that could be up to 500 tons or 1 million pounds of textiles in just one year taking up valuable space in the landfill. Textile recycling not only saves landfill space but also gives clothes and shoes a chance to be used by another person.
To provide the program, the landfill is partnering with local organizations and the Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency. Textiles that are not useful locally, will be recycled through the Agency’s partnership with Thrift World. Thrift World is a retail thrift store company that promotes recycling and reuse of used clothing, accessories, and other household goods in partnership with nonprofit organizations. The landfill will take the textiles to the Agency using a new trailer paid for with grant funding from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.