Dive Brief:
- Delray Beach, FL commissioners are considering a proposal by Weston-based Florida Textile Recycling Programs to set up kiosks and reward the city with money through franchise agreements. A contract would specify how many recycling bins the city gets, where they are situated, and when they are unloaded. Sensors in the bins notify the company when the bin is full, and trucks would collect the materials for recycling.
- Commissioners are concerned that the kiosks would hurt nonprofits such as Goodwill, The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. "Nonprofits might have to shut down as a result of these for-profit boxes," said Goodwill representative Brian Edwards.
- John Morgan, the city's sustainability manager, said he will ask local nonprofits if they would be interested in participating in a kiosk program and check out other for-profit companies. "People do recycle because of convenience," said Commissioner Mitch Katz. "If there are more boxes around it would encourage people to recycle. It doesn't have to be the for-profit route. The goal isn't to make $100,000, it's to recycle."
Dive Insight:
Textile recycling is catching on. New York City Department of Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia told Waste Dive earlier this month, "We’re in the midst of piloting curbside collection of textiles in several districts across the city."
And private retailers are recycling, as well. Speedo has debuted its PowerFLEX Eco swimwear made entirely of ECONYL Nylon 6, a recycled material comprised of old carpets and abandoned fishing nets. In order to create the nylon, Speedo sends its manufacturing scraps to Aquafil where they're upcycled into the ECONYL material.
Adidas' new "Sport Infinity" research project will allow the company to combine worn-out cleats and sportswear with scrap materials to make new, receycled products. Other retail giants — such as H&M — have also made similar efforts to repurpose old clothes into usable textiles.
The municipal and corporate push toward zero waste is admirable and extremely important to help the waste industry to sustain its goals and keep the environment clean.
In Delray Beach, commissioners are looking into all their options before signing with a for-profit company. "I strongly believe in recycling, especially textiles," said Commissioner Al Jacquet. "I also think we can come up with something that is tailored for Delray."