Annual textile collection event to be April 29-May 3

JOLIET – Will County’s annual textile collection event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 29, to Friday, May 3, at the County Office Building, 304 N. Chicago St.

On Friday, May 3, WJOL’s Scott Slocum will do his morning show at the County Office Building and textile donors will get compost in exchange for donations while supplies last.

Marta Keane, Recycling Specialist with the Will County Land Use Department’s Resource Recovery and Energy Division, said this year Will County is partnering with Savers of Orland Park. The annual event is held to encourage residents to donate unwanted clothing items instead of wasting them in a landfill.

“It takes more than 700 gallons of water to grow the cotton needed to make one T-shirt,” Keane said. “That cotton can be recycled like a plastic bottle, but before we recycle it, we should reuse it.”

Items in either good or poor condition will be accepted, Keane said. Among the items accepted will be sheets, towels, clothes, hats, gloves and shoes. Shoes should be tied or banded together.

Slocum will broadcast from 5:30 to 9 a.m. Friday, May 3. Among his guests that morning, Keane said, will be County Executive Larry Walsh, and representatives from Savers and Organix. Organix will provide the bags of nutrient rich compost made from food scraps. The company is currently collecting food scraps from two Plainfield High Schools in a pilot program.

Also on Friday, May 3, in addition to textiles, residents are invited to bring small home goods, such as toys, utensils, dishes, picture frames or small furniture. Donation slips will be provided that day.

The Land Use Department is under Walsh’s office and is led by David Dubois. For additional information about the department’s programs, go to www.willcountygreen.com.