Worcester Begins Free Textile Recycling Program

WORCESTER, MA — A new recycling program in Worcester is going to clean out your closet.

The city on Monday began offering a free textile recycling program through Helpsy, a New Jersey-based company that's one of the largest such recyclers in the Northeast.

The service allows Worcester residents to get rid of clothing, shoes, stuffed animals, linens, luggage, jewelry, belts and much more. Helpsy recycles about 95 percent of what it collects — including for resale at thrift stores, or broken down to create new clothing items, according to the company.

Worcester joins Cambridge, Salem and Boston in providing free textile recycling. The service will also help the city reach a zero waste goal as part of the Green Worcester Plan — and also help residents following a state ban on throwing textiles away that started in November.

"We are excited to begin this partnership with Helpsy so that we can combine our efforts to keep unwanted textiles from filling our local landfills and collaborate in making Worcester a more sustainable city and fulfilling the Green Worcester Plan’s Zero Waste goal," City Manager Eric Batista said in a news release.

Textile pickup will happen weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sign up for service on the Helpsy website or by calling 1-800-244-6350.