Re: [GRRN] more on shoes

Ann Schneider (aschneid@cats.UCSC.EDU)
Sun, 5 Dec 1999 09:22:58 -0800 (PST)


Hi:

In Brenda's message about Clothing recyclers she mentioned that Goodwill
and Salvation Army have begun bailing clothing and shipping offshore and
that act 'threatens family owned for-profit textile recyclers'.

Goodwill, The Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul and other traditional
thrifts have long collected and resold unsalable clothing to the domestic
rag market and to offshore markets. Clothing accounts for a significant
portion of their revenues which go back to the local communities in the
form of job training programs, alcohol and drug programs and helping the
homeless. And they have been doing this for over 100 years. So I don't
see them as threatening.

Rather I have been concerned that adding textile recycling (with or
without shoes) in curbside programs 'threatens the traditional thrifts
and any community based clothing recyclers'.

And just a note on some but not all of the partnerships between charity
clothing drives and certain for profit textile recyclers. A few years
ago, a study based on charities in the northeast found that most of the
profit for these drives did not go to the charity. Conclusion, be
careful who you are donating your clothing and other reusables to as it
could be a sceme.

Ann Schneider
New email address SchneiderAnn@juno.com