HOBOKEN, NJ - The City of Hoboken has announced a new Textile Recycling Program.

Residents will now be able to bring unwearable, torn and non-donatable textiles, such as shoes, clothing, accessories and linens to be recycled at two drop-off locations. This program will reduce the amount of textiles sent to landfills and decrease the City’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, all as part of the City’s Climate Action Plan to be carbon neutral by 2050, officials say.

In a statement city officials explained that natural fibers in textiles can take years to decompose and woolen fibers can release methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as they decompose. Nine percent of greenhouse gas emissions emitted in the community come from solid waste, including textiles, the Hoboken Climate Action Plan and Greenhouse Gas Inventory, adopted in 2019, reported.

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The two textile recycling bins can be found on the patio behind City Hall at 94 Washington St., along Bloomfield Street, and at Church Square Park along the north side of the central restroom building at 400 Garden Street.

The program accepts the following items in any condition:

clean clothes
shoes
sheets
towels
handbags
clothing accessories

Non-acceptable items include: **BULLSEYE

plastic toys
bathroom mats
rugs
shower curtains
down pillows and comforters

Recycling is being provided by non-profit Green Tree Charity at no cost to the City.

Green Tree Charity handles more than 100,000 pounds of textile recycling each month and that it will collect the recyclables weekly. Environmental Services staff will assist in monitoring the textile bins and notify Green Tree about increasing the frequency of its scheduled pick-ups if necessary.

To learn more about the Hoboken Green Team, go to www.hobokennj.gov/resources/green-team. **STANDARD

For more information on the Textile Recycling Program, go to www.hobokennj.gov/resources/textile-recycling.

The City’s contractor collects commingled recycling and paper recycling from residential areas once per week and paper recycling in the limited business area six times per week. The City also launched a free residential compost drop-off program for organic recycling. It began with one drop-off site in 2019, expanded to four in 2020, and expanded to 12 in 2021.

This fall, the City also announced a Zero Waste initiative to reduce GHG emissions and improve the quality of life for residents as part of the City’s Climate Action Plan. That initiative will analyze waste data to inform for the Zero Waste Plan that will outline the steps to achieve Zero Waste.