SBU Clothing Recycling Program: Raising Awareness, Reducing Waste

Facilities and Services Manager Michael Youdelman in front of the Red Hot clothing recycling bins.

Though clothing recycling binshave been part of the Stony Brook University campus for over 20 years, this year Stony Brook has introduced updated 'Red Hot' donation bins with enhanced signage and messaging. The updates clearly outline what can be donated and explain where the donations go, ensuring the community sees the impact of its contributions - both in supporting sustainability and improving the lives of others.

The program is revamped for greater transparency with scannable QR codes on the bins that direct to the Stony Brook recycling website. "We wanted to make sure it's clear what's accepted and what's not, and where the clothes are going once donated," said Facilities and ServicesManager Michael Youdelman, who oversees the recycling program.

Partnering with Wearable Collections, a New York City-based waste management company that owns the campus clothing recycling bins and collects donations every two weeks, the program collects clothing, shoes, and other textiles, diverting waste from landfills and giving pre-worn clothes new life for those in need.

"Even if it's torn, we encourage people to donate it. Clothing and fabric is a commodity, just like paper or metal. It can be repurposed into things like writing paper or even filler," Youdelman explained, emphasizing that the program is environmentally and socially conscious and that clean items in any condition are welcome.

According to the Wearable Collections website, about half of the items donated to their bins are sold, while the rest are recycled: "What we collect travels to a sorting facility where it is evaluated for its secondary uses. About 50% of collections will be reused as clothing and sold in secondhand markets throughout the world, providing access to affordable apparel. The rest are upcycled as rags, or shredded into fiber products, used for purposes like insulation, carpet padding and mattress stuffing."

The impact of the clothing recycling program is immense, with the university collecting around 10 tons of material annually. The goal is to increase these numbers by educating more students, faculty and staff about the program and its benefits.

With plans to expand the number of bins across campus, particularly on the East Campus, there's hope that more of the university community will participate. "It's free to use, and it helps keep waste out of landfills," said Youdelman. "We all have clothes we don't use anymore, and by donating to the bins, we're helping the environment and helping others while keeping waste out of landfills,"

"It's important for our community members to see that recycling is a core part of our culture here at Stony Brook, and to see the opportunity to reduce waste and to reuse or recycle unwanted items," Youdelman added. "We embrace our students and staff, and we know that if we do our part, they'll do theirs and carry the recycling torch forward."

- Beth Squire

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.