King County and Seattle Public Utilities have launched Threadcycle, a new joint effort to reduce the estimated 40,000 tons of clothes, shoes and linens that area residents and businesses send to landfills each year.

The campaign, which partners with eight area organizations that collect used clothes, shoes and linens for reuse or recycling, aims to educate the public about the wide range of conditions in which those items are accepted.

“People are accustomed to hearing that only ‘gently used’ items can be given to thrift stores and drop boxes – many don’t know that they can give damaged clothes and linens, or even single shoes and socks, which will either be reused, or recycled and used to make new products,” said Kris Beatty, program manager for King County Solid Waste Division.

“The good news is that recycling markets are strong for these post-consumer textiles, and many collectors in our area want more textiles,” Beatty said.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average person throws away 70 pounds of clothing per year; up to 95 percent of the used clothes, shoes and linens thrown in the garbage could have been reused or recycled.

To give new life to these materials and decrease the amount of textiles that end up in landfills, the Threadcycle campaign is partnering with nine organizations and businesses to educate the public.

Campaign partners who accept clothes, shoes and linens in any condition except wet, mildewed, or contaminated with hazardous materials are: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, Seattle Goodwill, Northwest Center, Salvation Army Family Thrift Stores, SightConnection, TexGreen, USAgain, and Value Village.

To learn more about Threadcycle, what items can be given for reuse or recycling, and where or how to donate, visit www.kingcounty.gov/threadcycle.