Register by September 29 for curbside textile (clothing, footwear, and linen) pick-up

Curbside textile recycling will return for Kawartha Lakes residents in October. The purpose of curbside textile recycling is to help divert clothing, footwear and linens from ending up in our landfills.

The following items will be accepted for pick-up:

Clothing: active wear, bathing suits, bathrobes, belts/ties, coats, dresses, hats, jeans, pants, parkas, purses, scarves, shirts, skirts, socks, sweaters, t-shirts, undergarments and uniforms.

Footwear: athletic shoes, boots, cleats, dress shoes, high heels, running shoes, slip-ons, slippers, loafers and sneakers.

Linens: bedding, blankets, comforters, curtains, cushions, mats, oven mitts, pillows, rags, sewing fabric, sheets, sleeping bags, stuffed toys, towels and wash cloths.

Please Note: ripped and stained items will be accepted for recycling.

What happens to the textiles collected?

Textiles donated through this program are collected by Talize/Recycling Rewards and brought to a sorting facility. Textiles go to Talize thrift stores where they may be sold or redistributed. Non-reusable textiles are sent to companies that recycle them into upholstery, stuffing or rags. Items that cannot be reused or recycled go to the landfill.

Talize/Recycling Rewards has a 98% diversion rate of all materials they accept.

Residents can also drop off any textile items listed above to our five landfill locations at any time throughout the year, as long as they are brought in clear bags and not mixed in with other recycling items.

Curbside textile pick-up schedule and how to register:

Residents will have the opportunity to arrange for textile curbside pick-up through Recycling Rewards on their designated date outlined below:

• If your regular waste collection day is a Thursday – you can book your textile pickup for Monday October 2

• If your regular waste collection day is a Monday – you can book your textile pickup for Tuesday October 3

• If your regular waste collection day is a Tuesday – you can book your textile pickup for Wednesday October 4

• If your regular waste collection day is a Wednesday – you can book your textile pickup for Thursday October 5

To register your textiles for curbside pick-up, please contact Recycling Rewards, available Monday to Friday from 9am to 4:30pm, by calling 1-866-927-3873 and pressing #5 for Kawartha Lakes.

Pick-up can also be scheduled by emailing info@recyclingrewards.com. Be sure to include “curbside pick-up” in the subject line of your email and don’t forget to include your address (including town name) and contact information. The deadline to book your collection is Friday September 29.

On your designated collection day, please place your textiles in clear bags at the curb no later than 7am.

Should you have any questions regarding textile items, please reach out to recycling@kawarthalakes.ca.