USAgain Responds to Questions on Clothing Bins in Ames

Those smelly flip flops that were too raunchy for might be perfect for USAgain, a for-profit company at bins around town.

A PR representative for USAgain Jen Hirsch, of Group SJR, said Thursday that many items Americans wouldn't consider worthy of charitable donations would still be acceptable in the developing nations the discarded items go to.

The green bins state they are for profit, and Hirsch said in promotional materials that USAgain asks people to discard their items rather than donate.

“That helps people understand that we are just taking things. We are getting rid of (things) not taking donations, per se,” Hirsch said.

Companies that host the bins are typically compensated per pound collected, but it depends on the contract, Hirsch said.

The bins are emptied weekly and the clothing and shoes are then sold in huge bales to sorting companies. Some of the second-hand clothing is sold domestically and the rest is sold overseas.

“There is a huge demand for second hand clothing and used shoes in developing countries,” Hirsch said.

Clothing that cannot be reworn is recycled into cloths, insulation and furniture padding.

Hirsch said a lot of companies use the same drop off box model but USAgain clearly states they are for profit on the box and on its website: USAgain.com.