CINCINNATI -- A new recycling program will help keep heaps of textiles, clothing and housewares from heading to landfills and benefit Cincinnati to the tune of $70,000 per year, city officials say.
Cincinnati is launching its partnership with Solon-based Simple Recycling on Monday morning with a ceremonial first collection of the orange bags, which were distributed to Cincinnati residents via mail throughout March.
According to the contract, Simple Recycling will accept “soft recyclables,” which includes "men’s, women’s and children’s clothing as well as items such as shoes, purses, hats, toys, pictures, mirrors, blankets, drapes and curtains, pillows, rags, sewing scraps, sleeping bags, jewelry, small furniture, small appliances, irons, radios and audio equipment, TVs and video equipment, cameras, lamps, hairdryers, tools, toasters, microwaves, coffee makers, computers and household or consumer electronics, silverware, dishes, pots and pans, glasses and the like."
Sounds like they'll take pretty much anything.
According to the city's website, the program is free for residents, who can place filled bags at the curb next to their green recycling carts on their regular biweekly recycling day.
Simple Recycling has agreed to pay the city $20 per ton for the material they collect from residents. In addition, Cincinnati will earn about $25 per ton in residential recycling incentive payments and save about $25 per ton in landfill tipping fees. The city estimates the net benefit at $70,000 for 1,000 tons per year.
Cincinnati is encouraging residents to support local thrift stores and charities that accept textiles and housewares first before using Simple Recycling.
"The curbside collection is intended to rescue valuable materials from the landfill, not to divert materials away from these charities," the city wrote on its website.
Questions about textile recycling may be directed to Simple Recycling at 866-835-5068.
