By David Goldstein –
America Recycles Day began in 1997 to educate the public about recycling opportunities and encourage responsible resource management. In Ventura County, most recyclable materials can conveniently be placed in curbside recycling bins. However, textiles and electronic waste (e-waste) are among the materials that cannot be recycled at the curb.
In recognition of America Recycles Day, the County of Ventura is sponsoring a special drop-off collection:
- Friday, November 20. From 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- The Public Works Agency (PWA) and General Services Agency (GSA) will host a collection event at the Service Building of the Ventura County Government Center.
The collection will give unwanted textiles a new purpose, recycle electronic waste, and keep batteries and fluorescent bulbs out of the landfill. It will also support employment opportunities through a partnership with Homeboy Industries.
PWA typically encourages residents to donate unwanted clothing to local thrift stores. However, thrift stores generally accept only items they can resell, leaving other textiles without an easy recycling option. Through this collection, Homeboy Industries will accept a broader range of materials. With funding from PWA, the organization will sell items suitable for resale and domestically recycle the rest into products such as insulation, stuffing, and mattress pads.
Accepted textiles include clean clothing, matched pairs of shoes, socks, handbags, backpacks, hats, gloves, scarves, towels, sheets, pillowcases, and curtains. Undergarments and swimsuits are accepted only if they are new and in their original, unopened packaging. Dirty items, used pillows and comforters, stuffed animals, rugs, and used rags cannot be accepted.
The partnership has already demonstrated promising results. At the County’s Earth Day event in April, residents donated 1,422 pounds of textiles. Homeboy Industries collected the materials, recycling more than 96 percent and selling nearly 4 percent through e-commerce platforms.
Homeboy Industries provides job training and employment to people seeking a fresh start after incarceration and gang involvement. Recovering materials and creating employment opportunities are complementary goals: discarded clothing becomes a resource, while the work of processing it helps people develop skills and build livelihoods.
The November 20 collection also expands the County’s electronic waste recycling efforts. GSA, which normally manages electronic waste generated by County operations, will open its collection to the public. Batteries and fluorescent bulbs will also be accepted, potentially increasing the amount collected beyond the more than 10,000 pounds previously gathered at a GSA event.
“Proper collection prevents harmful materials from entering the environment and allows recoverable materials to return to productive use,” said GSA Management Assistant Brianna Bertrand.
Residents interested in reducing textile waste can also participate in a local clothing exchange before the County collection. Wendi Mitchell, owner of Blue Ridge Market and Learning Center is hosting a free clothing exchange:
- Friday, November 13, 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m
- 1461 Tower Square, Ventura.
Participants receive one ticket for each acceptable item they bring and can exchange their tickets for other clothing. All items must be clean and in good condition.Clothing unsuitable for the exchange, along with items left over afterward, will be delivered to the County’s November 20 collection.
Mitchell is also planning a tie-dye gathering on January 9, from 3 to 7 p.m. Participants can bring stained or otherwise imperfect garments and give them a second life. For $10, Mitchell supplies the dye, rubber bands, and drying racks. Transforming an unwanted shirt into something wearable offers another creative way to keep clothing out of the trash.
These activities illustrate an important principle of waste reduction: Although recycling is valuable, extending the useful life of products is even better. Exchanging clothing, repairing it, creatively transforming it, and choosing durable items can all reduce the demand for new resources.
America Recycles Day reminds us that responsible resource management begins with everyday decisions. Whether exchanging a shirt, transforming a stained garment, or bringing electronics and textiles to the County collection, residents have opportunities to turn items they no longer need into valuable resources.
David Goldstein, Environmental Resource Analyst with the Ventura County Public Works Agency, may be reached at (805) 658-4312 or david.goldstein@venturacounty.gov.
