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Textile
and
Apparel
Management

Textile and

Apparel

Management

Extension

works closely

with industry

to improve the

competitive position

of Missouri

businesses and

prepare students

for careers in this

global industry.
[MO-TAC]

MO-TAC helps state's recycling efforts

[logo] Like most textile and apparel manufacturers, Angelica Image Apparel, Inc. in Mountain View was accustomed to paying high landfill fees to haul and bury its textile waste. A monthly average of about $2,700 wasn't unusual.

By utilizing a textile recycling service more than half of that money could go back into the business each month. What's more, the company wouldn't be clogging the state's landfills.

With a boost from extensions Missouri Textile and Apparel Center (MO-TAC), state efforts to recycle waste from the industry are growing. And why not?

Companies that recycle even part of the textile waste they generate will save money while benefitting the environment. Those companies pay textile scrap collection and recycling companies less to haul their waste than they would pay to haul and bury it in landfills. These recycling companies can afford the lower price tag usually about half of the landfill fees because they'll generate even more income from the textile waste by turning it into any number of products "It's a worthwhile effort on all fronts," says Susan Henson, MO-TAC director.

In cooperation with the University Extension System, MO-TAC received funding from the Environmental Improvement Energy Resources Authority (EIERA) which allowed them to conduct a research project and create a marketing brochure and thorough information packet.

MO-TAC conducted a research project to assess companies' attitudes toward recycling, which found that small companies were drawn to recycling because of the community benefits, while larger companies were more interested in the bottom line.

The project also showed that most of the state's smaller firms, those with 50 employees or less, don't think they generate enough waste to justify a textile recycling program at their facilities.

"Nothing is farther from the truth," says Henson.

To introduce companies to the benefits of textile recycling, Henson also created a brochure and follow up information packet that targets both big and small companies.

When textile companies contract with recycling companies, the effort required to sort and size scraps is minimal compared to the cost savings, she says.

Not only that, big and small companies feel good knowing their scraps could be turned into a variety of products, including;

Carpet pads - A processing plant shreds and blends the scraps and turns them into carpet pads or the backs of the pads in cars.

  • Fiber fill
    This is used for pillows, sleeping bags and toys.

  • Fabric again
    Some scraps travel full-circle. They undergo a process called "micro-needling" and are turned into a sturdy fabric blend. This is the mainstay of the garment industry in Russia.

  • Rags
    Fleece is especially useful as a rag.

  • Quilt pieces
    Scraps are sorted by color, size and fabric content and packaged as quilt scraps.

  • Art
    Some scraps are used by artists.

MO-TAC helped facilitate textile recycling efforts by working with the EIERA's Market Development Program to award a grant to a company interested in starting a textile scrap collection and processing facility. A grant was awarded to a company in Mountain View to initiate a collection and recycling business. Several manufacturers began to utilize the service immediately diverting 70,000 pounds of waste from Missouri landfills each month. Unfortunately, at this printing this textile collection company's operations are presently on hold due to uncertain management and logistical problems. The State is presently looking into other options to continue providing textile scrap collection for Missouri companies. It is hoped that a collection service will start up again, as there continues to be positive response from companies that are ready to utilize this service and recycle their textile scraps.




Site Administrator
Jeanne Bintzer
bintzerj@ext.missouri.edu


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