Looking for a creative way to fundraise? Consider putting on a Textile Recycling Project. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Textile Recycling Project: The Association of Textile and Apparel Management (ATAM) at the University of Missouri- Columbia successfully completed their Textile Recycling Project last April. They collected 16376lbs of textiles, raising a total of $982.56! What does a Textile Recycling Project entail? Well, it involves a mutually beneficial relationship between your organization and a textile recycling company. There are many such companies around the nation; however, they are predominately located in large metropolitan areas. Check your local phone directory or search online for a textile recycling company near you. These companies take pride in keeping textiles out of landfills. Textile recycling companies usually purchase the excess or unwanted textiles from charities such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill. These textiles are then sorted. If the garments are in good enough condition to be shipped overseas to less developed countries, they are bundled into 1000lb bails and sold at various prices (depending on the textile type and quality). If the garments are not reusable, they are recycled. To see some examples of what becomes of our old, tattered goods, click on the New Uses link at the bottom of the page. Once your organization has chosen a textile recycling company with which you would like to work, you must decipher a contract (verbal or written preferably written). This contract should include a few key factors: The date(s) of the textile collection The textiles your textile recycling company sees as acceptable for collection textile recycling companies are capable of doing different things, depending on the equipment they own. So it is imperative you only provide them with what they can use. The means of pick up make sure the textile recycling company provides the semi truck you will be filling. And remember, you may decide at a later date where the semi will be parked for the collection. The price (by the pound) your organization will receive for the textiles collected this should be a higher price than what the company pays Goodwill because the goods collected at your drive will not be picked through. By what date the company should pay your organization. Note HOWEVER, BEFORE YOU COMMIT, BE SURE YOU HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH THE PROJECT for delegation suggestions, click the Delegation link at the bottom of the page.

There is quite a bit that needs to occur prior to the actual collection day(s). By clicking the Calendar link at the bottom of the page, you are able to see the type of commitment needed to successfully run this project. The schedule of preparation events is based off ATAM s recent textile recycling project. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mutually Beneficial Relationship: You Receive: Funds based on how much is collected. Positive publicity for your organization An opportunity to educate the community on an important topic They Receive: Quality clothing (that have not already been picked over) with a higher resale value Positive publicity for their business You Give: Countless hours of time educating the community, doing publicity interviews, securing a drop off site for the semi truck, putting together and strategically placing donation drop boxes, and working the drop off site on collection day(s) just to name a few Money to have flyers or brochures printed (see a sample from the ATAM Textile Recycling Project by clicking the Brochure link at the bottom of the page) They Give: Money for the textiles collected A truck to collect the textiles in ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Textiles: Below are some of the items typically collected by textile recycling companies: Men s, Women s, and Children s clothing in any condition holes and dirt are OK Bedding/Linens Curtains Purses/Bags Shoes tied or rubber-banded together Accessories scarves, belts, hats, gloves Small Stuffed Toys Scrap Material

New Uses: Below are some ways our old, tattered textiles can be used: Chopped Shoe Soles > > > All-Weather Tracks Astroturf Athletic Fields The Surface of Horse Arenas (bits of rubber mixed with sand) Shredded Textiles > > > > Stationary Paper (cotton is best for this) Mattress Stuffing Boxing Bag Filling (textiles combined with sand) Shredded Wool Sweaters > > > New Wool Sweaters Scarves Stadium Blankets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delegation: The project can most effectively be run if everyone involved is placed into a committee. Each should have a committee head to keep the group on top of tasks and deadlines. Below are suggested committees and their corresponding duties: Location - This committee is in charge of finding a parking lot or other area large enough for a small semi to park for a number of days. Brochure - This committee must design a brochure explaining the project and must negotiate where the brochure will be printed and for what price. This committee should also help create signage for the actual event. Publicity - This committee will be working with the local media (newspaper, radio, and TV) to ensure the word gets out and feature stories are run. Drop Box - This committee is in charge of making and placing donation drop boxes around the community (Day Cares/Schools, Offices, Greek Houses, Dorms, Apartment Complexes, etc.). This option will make it easier for people to donate. On Site - This committee is in charge of having enough volunteers to work the actual collection site. Soliciting - This committee is in charge of soliciting donations from businesses in related industries (2 nd hand clothing stores, alterations shops, manufacturing companies that create textile scraps, etc.) and individuals having garage sales the weekend of the collection (their end of the day leftovers make great donations). Also, you might want to solicit help from local companies (such as Waste Management) in distributing brochures.

Education - This committee is in charge of educating the community via presentations regarding the benefits of recycling textiles and the details of the textile recycling project. These presentations could be given to classes of children, community organizations such as the Sierra Club, campus organizations interested in keeping the environment clean, and religious affiliations. Note: Each committee is color-coded above and on the Calendar to easier understand the duties to be completed prior to the collection date. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Remains Inc. is the Saint Louis based textile recycling company the ATAM organization at the University of Missouri used. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Random Things You Should Know: These are some of the valuable lessons the Association of Textile and Apparel Management learned from their Textile Recycling Project: Take everything out of your pockets when loading bags of used textiles into the semi. If you do not, you could lose your possessions (aka: car keys). Poke holes in the bags of textiles to let out any excess air, that way you can pack the bags tighter. Have males on hand at the collection site because their muscles come in quite handy. Bring extra trash bags. People will drop off loose clothing. Have a box of rubber bands at the collection site. You will need them to pair shoes together. Do not play your car radio the entire duration of the collection. Your car battery will die! You will get dirty EXTREMELY dirty. People will show up before and after the allotted times for collection, and they will drop off bags of textiles when you are not there. Have receipts available for tax deduction purposes. People will complain if you do not. A four day collection period is recommended. No longer excitement for the project will diminish. If you are a student organization, take full advantage of what your campus/university has to offer (parking lots, grant money, media relations representatives, dorm facilities, the Greek system, printing discounts, etc.) If there are other universities in the area, solicit their help as well. Get as many people as you can to lend a helping hand. Utilize email mass emails reach a lot of people.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Helpful Links/Websites: www.jour.missouri.edu/missourianarchives This is a link to the Columbia Missourian archives. To view an article written on the University of Missouri s textile recycling project, search key words textile recycling on the date of 4-2-04. www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=27&cat=reuseashoe This is a link to Nike s Reuse-A-Shoe program. It is a wonderful example of textile recycling. Plus, materials explaining the process of recycling an athletic shoe may be purchased to aid in TR education programs. www.smartasn.org/ This is the homepage for the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association.