Clothing and Textile Recovery
Bring your clothing and textiles to one of our drop-off bins, a Zero Waste Day event, or schedule an appointment for curbside collection. Keep reading to learn how it works!
In November 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection banned textiles from disposal. In compliance with this policy, the City of Boston does not accept clothing and textiles in curbside trash.
Across Massachusetts, residents and businesses dispose of approximately 230,000 tons of textiles annually. More than 5% of waste delivered to combustion facilities is made up of clothing and textiles. About 85% of the textiles currently being thrown away could be donated, reused, or recovered instead.
To help residents comply with this state policy, the City of Boston offers two options for residents to get rid of their unwanted clothing and textiles:
- drop boxes conveniently located throughout the City, and
- weekend curbside textile collection.
Items that are worn, torn, or stained are still accepted! Items that are soiled, wet, or moldy should be placed in your curbside trash for collection.
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Have questions? Contact 311:
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1 CITY HALL SQUARE, ROOM 714
BOSTON, MA 02201 -
Overflowing drop-off bin?
If you see an overflowing drop-off bin, email zerowaste@boston.gov and it will be serviced within 24 hours.
Accepted Clothing and Textiles
Accepted TextilesFor re-wear, reuse, and recovery, we accept the following items in any condition, so long as they are clean, dry, and odorless. Everything should be kept dry in a closed, plastic bag. Getting rid of clothes responsibly shouldn’t be hard, we’re here to help!
Footwear:
- Shoes
- Heels
- Flats
- Sandals
- Flip Flops
- Boots (work boots, dress boots, winter boots)
- Sneakers
- Cleats
- Slippers
Linens:
- Pillowcases
- Blankets
- Comforters
- Curtains/Drapes
- Aprons
- Dish cloths
- Cloth napkins
- Table linens
- Quilts
- Sheets
Other:
- Luggage
- Sports jerseys
- Stuffed animals
Clothing:
- Tops (t-shirt, blouses, shirts, tank tops)
- Sweaters
- Sweatshirts
- Dresses
- Outerwear (coats, jackets, blazers)
- Bottoms (pants, slacks, jeans, sweatpants, skirts, shorts)
- Suits
- Socks
- Pajamas
- Slips
- Bras
- Underwear
- Baby clothing
Accessories:
- Hats
- Bags (pocketbooks, backpacks, duffle bags, totes)
- Belts
- Gloves
- Ties
- Scarves
- Bathrobes
- Jewelry
- Wet items
- Moldy items
- Dirty items
- Furniture
- Bulky items
What happens to my clothing and textiles?
Nearly 100% of donated clothing and textiles are recovered! They are separated into 3 grades: usable clothing, wiping cloth grade, and fiber conversion grade.
- About 45% of donated textiles are sold as second hand apparel, either through charitable organizations or for-profit exporters that sell baled clothing to developing countries.
- Another 30% is turned into industrial wiping cloths. ERC Wiping Products (Lynn, MA) cuts used clothing and other textiles into rags and sells them to commercial garages and public works operations.
- The remaining 20% is sent to fiber converters where textiles are broken down into their basic fiber components to be re-manufactured into insulation for cars and homes, carpet padding or soundproofing materials.
Curbside Textile Pickup
Curbside PickupDrop-off locations
| Neighborhood | Address |
|---|---|
| Brighton |
2-4 Fidelis Way (Out of service as of 6/26/24) 35 Fidelis Way (Commonwealth Development) (Out of service as of 6/25/24) 398 Market Street (Out of service as of 6/26/24) |
| Charlestown |
50 Monument Street, adjacent to basketball courts 162 Medford Street (Out of service as of 6/25/24) Warren Prescott K-8, 50 West School Street (Out of service as of 6/27/24) |
| Dorchester |
Mather Elementary, 1 Parish Street (Out of service as of 6/27/24) 400 Frontage Road, Public Works Central Facility (Out of service as of 6/24/24) Boston International Newcomers Academy, 100 Maxwell Street (Out of service as of 6/27/24) PA Shaw Elementary, 429 Norfolk Street (Out of service as of 6/27/24) |
| East Boston | 166 London Street (Out of service as of 6/25/24) |
| Fenway | McKinley Middle School, 50 St. Mary's Street (Out of service as of 6/27/24) |
| Hyde Park |
Bow Street, adjacent to basketball courts (Out of service as of 6/24/24) 420 West St. (George Wright Golf Course) (Out of service as of 6/24/24) 37 Winthrop Street (access off Hyde Park Avenue) (Out of service as of 6/24/24) |
| Jamaica Plain |
125 South Street (Out of service as of 6/25/24) James Hennigan School, 200 Heath Street (Out of service as of 6/28/24) |
| Roslindale |
10 Taft Hill Terrace (Out of service as of 6/26/24) 128 Brookway Road (Out of service as of 6/25/24) |
| Roxbury | Across from 30 Annunciation Road (Alice Taylor Development) (Out of service as of 6/24/24) |
| West Roxbury |
315 Gardner Street (Millennium Park) (Out of service as of 6/26/24) 39-41 Corey Street (Out of service as of 6/26/24) |
Bins marked "out of service" will be replaced in early July and the website updated to reflect changes.
Frequently Asked questions
FAQNo, there will be no fines for non-compliance.
If you do see an overflowing bin, email zerowaste@boston.gov and it will be serviced within 24 hours.
First schedule your curbside collection appointment, and make sure to check our accepted items list. Please make sure all of your items are dry, clean, and free of mildew or mold. Place unwanted clothing and textile items in a plastic bag, tie the bag, and label it with “clothing". Place your bag out on your doorstep on your scheduled pickup day.
Visit Boston's Circular Economy Directory to find retailers that accept and sell used clothing.
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Have questions? Contact 311:
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1 CITY HALL SQUARE, ROOM 714
BOSTON, MA 02201 -
Overflowing drop-off bin?
If you see an overflowing drop-off bin, email zerowaste@boston.gov and it will be serviced within 24 hours.
