Baltimore County Partners with Helpsy to Increase Textile Recycling

In an attempt to help with textile waste taking up space in landfills, Baltimore County has announced a new partnership to help recycle clothing.

The Department of Public Works & Transportation, Bureau of Solid Waste Management is partnering with Helpsy, a certified B Corporation that extends the useful life of secondhand clothing. Helpsy containers will be available to residents where they can recycle clothing, shoes, backpacks, sheets, towels, blankets, and more.

Baltimore County will have Helpsy clothing collection containers at the County’s three drop-off facilities.

Textile waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the United States, taking up about 5% of all landfill space, according to the U.S. EPA.

“The Bureau of Solid Waste is excited about this new partnership with Helpsy,” said Solid Waste Management Director Nick Rodricks. “Textiles are a surprisingly large share of what residents throw away, so we’re very happy to have a new outlet for these materials. Anything residents can help us divert from the landfill and repurpose will help with our long-term waste reduction goals. Residents should take advantage of this program, collect their old clothes and drop them off at one of our drop-off facilities.”

In 2022, Helpsy paid more than $500,000 to charities for collection partnerships and helped save over $1.5 million in disposal fees for municipalities. Plus, Helpsy donated over 28,000 coats to the needy.

“We are dedicated to changing the way people think about clothing recycling while adhering to the highest level of social and environmental performance” says Dan Green, Co-Founder and CEO, “Helpsy’s mission is to keep clothes out of the trash.”

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