Central Minnesota Residents Can Recycle Old Clothes for Free this Saturday

(KNSI) – Stearns, Benton and Sherburne County residents looking to clear out closets and storage spaces have a free option this weekend.

The Tri-County Solid Waste Commission is hosting a textile recycling event Saturday, July 18th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Stearns County Service Center, 3301 County Road 138 in Waite Park.

Residents can drop off worn, torn or unwanted clothing, shoes, linens and other home fabrics with no limit on the number of items accepted for this event. The event accepts bras, socks and underwear, clothing, towels, cloths and rags, household textiles, dog toys and stuffed toys, shoes, and bed linens.

All accepted materials will be recycled rather than sent to a landfill, part of an effort to cut into the more than 11 million tons of textiles Americans throw away each year.

The event will not accept unwashed items, carpets and rugs, industrial workwear, pillows and cushion inners, or paint- or oil-coated garments. Organizers reserve the right to turn away any items that don’t meet those guidelines.

The event is free for residents of all three counties. The commission is partnering with Retold Recycling, a California-based textile recycling company that gained national attention in 2023 after landing a $300,000 investment from Mark Cuban on “Shark Tank.”

Anyone with questions can contact the Tri-County Solid Waste Commission at 320-257-8606.

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