Textiles & Mattresses

Mattresses must be reused or recycled - see Mattresses in Reuse & Recycle for what to do with them

Textiles: clothing, shoes, and related items

As of November 2022, Massachusetts law prohibits textiles from being included in the trash. This equates to about 100 pounds per person. Benefits are that 95% can be reused or recycled, reducing the amount of energy and harmful chemicals used in producing new textiles and removing this waste stream from landfills and incinerators as well as the transportation to them.

Biggest impact

• Refuse to buy trendy items that will be discarded before they are worn out

• Reduce the number of items of clothing and accessories you have

• Buy items made with sustainable materials and from local producers to minimize the environmental impact

• See Reuse & Recycle  for places to donate textiles directly to an organization you support

Use Helpsy for free home pickup of textiles

• Wait until you have 3 or more bags of textiles - here's what Helpsy accepts and does not accept:

  • • Clothing (from outwear to socks)

    • Footwear (shoes, boots, etc)

    • Accessories (from purses to belts)

    • Household textiles (from throw rugs to curtains) - for down pillows, compost the down and put the case in textile recycling

    • Stuffed animals

    • Excluded are items contaminated with mold, oil, or harmful substances - those need to go in the trash

    • Full list at Helpsy website

• Schedule a pickup - they come to town once a week - upcoming dates are listed and you choose one

• Put your textiles in labeled, plastic bags to keep the items dry. Before 7am of the scheduled date, put the bags where you would you put your garbage. Helpsy will pick up the bags by 5pm.

• Helpsy sells or donates any usable items (75%), then recycles the material from most of the rest (20%) which is made into new textiles - more info

• Cool fact - Helpsy is a B Corporation!

• Hopkinton will receive payment for textiles collected