Over the course of one year, NYC residents will throw away about 200,000 tons of clothes, towels, blankets, curtains, shoes, handbags, belts, and other textiles. The reason New Yorkers may choose to dispose of their unwanted clothes and accessories rather than donate them is out of pure convenience.

To overcome this ailment, the non-profit organization re-fashionNYC, in partnership with the City of New York and Housing Works has come up with a convenient and innovative solution. Re-fashionNYC allows for clothing donations to be made through an easy apartment building drop-off service. Apartment buildings with 10 or more units are most eligible for this program. Businesses are also eligible if they regularly collect and donate clothing. This is a completely free donation service that will cost buildings and taxpayers absolutely nothing.

If you are interested in participating in this amazing clothing reuse program, have your building owner or manager complete re-fashionNYC’s online inquiry form. Once your building is approved an on-site visit will be scheduled where how many bins will be needed, what size bin is best for your building, and where the bins should be placed will be discussed. After receiving your buildings bins, you can contact re-fashionNYC for pickup once your bin is filled. People who donate clothes and other materials are eligible to fill out tax receipts, which are available on the bin itself. 

The donations themselves are picked up and transported to the Housing Works’ warehouse in Queens for sorting. From then on they will be sold in Housing Works’ shops throughout NYC or one of their warehouse sales. Leftovers will be shipped to another non-profit thrift shop in Haiti or to various other non-profit thrift shops. The rest will be sold to a use textile merchant for recycling or export to overseas markets. All profits generated from the sales of your donations will benefit low-income and homeless New Yorkers living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Re-fashion helps with waste reduction and keeps tens of thousands of clothing, linens, shoes, and accessories out of landfills every year!
For more information on re-fashionNYC visit nyc.gov/refashion.