Guide for Reuse, Repair, Recycling, and Safe Disposal
for Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the City of Palo Alto
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Clothing in Poor Condition

Clothing - Poor Condition

Clothes and linens (towels, bedding, rags) that are ripped and/or stained, or pieces of textiles that can be turned into rags or shredded for recycling.

Consider repair, stain removal and creative reuse before donation to an organization for reuse or recycling (rag and textile shredding).

Click here to learn more about clothing repair, stain removal for clothing and linens (DIY & non-toxic cleaners), and donation/recycling programs. Many cleaners have alteration services that include zipper repair for fabrics, while shoe repair businesses also provide zipper repair for purses, backpacks, and luggage.

Do large charity thrifts actually recycle? Learn more here.

Vendors

Vendor Address City Destination Disposal Method Notes
Sarah Marie's Sewing School The Avenues San Bruno Repair Drop-off for a Fee Instruction in alteration and repair
Shoreway Environmental Center (SEC) 333 Shoreway Road San Carlos Recycle Free Drop-off Public Recycling Center
The Salvation Army Home Pick-Up Service 832 Folsom St San Francisco Recycle Free Pick-up Accepts clean ripped, stained, worn fabric/clothing is resold on the textile market, for the rags market or carpet padding/seat stuffing.
Recycle for Change (B&J Burgers) 6202 3rd St. San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry; bagged to stay clean and dry.
Salvation Army (1500 Valencia St.) 1500 Valencia St. San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry. All textiles deposited into bin should be in closed plastic bags.
Recycle for Change (MLK Middle School) 350 Girard St. San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry; bagged to stay clean and dry.
Recycle for Change (Shell Gas - Mission 4298 Mission St. San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry; bagged to stay clean and dry.
Savvy Cleaners 35 Laguna St San Francisco Repair Drop-off for a Fee, Pick-up for a Fee Green cleaning and dry cleaning and repair service. Local free pick up and drop off service.
USAgain (at Rank Quick Serve on Mission St) 4199 Mission St. San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry. All textiles deposited into bin should be in closed plastic bags.
USAgain (Edward Robeson Taylor School) 423 Burrows St San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry. All textiles deposited into bin should be in closed plastic bags.
USAgain (at The Laundry Basket on Ocean Ave) 1500 Ocean Ave San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry. All textiles deposited into bin should be in closed plastic bags.
USAgain (76 Gas) 975 Bayshore Blvd San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry. All textiles deposited into bin should be in closed plastic bags.
USAgain (Portola Grocery Outlet) 1390 Silver Ave San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry. All textiles deposited into bin should be in closed plastic bags.
USAgain (Dr Charles R. Drew Elementary School) 50 Pomona Ave San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry. All textiles deposited into bin should be in closed plastic bags.
Recycle for Change (Angel Wash House) 5205 3rd St. San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry; bagged to stay clean and dry.
Patagonia (770 North Point St) 770 North Point Street San Francisco Repair Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee Repairs: Patagonia outerwear, bottoms, luggage, fasteners, tops
USAgain (at Oxbridge Market) 790 Silver Ave San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry. All textiles deposited into bin should be in closed plastic bags.
Salvation Army Donation Dropbox (Little Bethany Baptist Church) 1636 Armstrong Avenue San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Accepts clean ripped, stained, worn fabric/clothing is resold on the textile market, for the rags market or carpet padding/seat stuffing.
Bay Rag 201 San Jose Ave San Jose Recycle Free Drop-off, Free Pick-up Partner with commercial laundries, hotels, hospitals, hospitality, municipalities, and textile manufacturers for clean, unwanted cotton textiles to be made into wiping/cleaning rags. Commercial quantity. (T-shirt, flannel, turkish towel, sheeting, huck, sweatshirt - white and color) Min quantity 1 gaylord.
Custom Cleaners & Alterations 1988 Lewelling Blvd San Leandro Repair Drop-off for a Fee

Curbside Service

Garbage Bulky Pickup Special Action Note
Alameda
Albany
Curbside collection program April, July, October. Single & Multi Family residences. Accepted items: clothing, socks, fabric, curtains, towels, linens, bedding, pillows, scarves, etc. Ripped, torn, stained okay. Clean and dry. Materials to be sorted for reuse and recycling to keep textiles out of landfills.
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Berkeley
Castro Valley Sanitary District
Collect clean and dry materials in a large plastic bag to keep it clean during collection for reuse and recycling for Bulky & Reuse Pick-up.
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Clean and dry. See Textile Collection Program details. Collect clean and dry materials in a large plastic bag to keep it clean during collection for reuse or recycling twice a year (first full week of June/Oct). Set bags or boxes of dry (no biowaste) textiles by blue cart. Residents are eligible to drop-off their textiles at Recycles Day collection events (currently held in April and July). Not accepted: No textiles that are wet, moldy, or have human biowaste, blood, toxic chemicals, or motor oil on them. No light-up shoes, light-up clothes, or light-up stuffed animals. No electric blankets. No mattress toppers or pillows.
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Dublin
Emeryville
Fremont
Place clean, dry items in clear bags for donation. Donate clean, dry items to large thrifts for rag market or recycling into carpet padding, automotive stuffing, or the like.
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Hayward
Hayward (Oro Loma - L2)
Livermore
During the first week of every January, April, July, October, gently used household textiles (sheets, towels, etc.) and clothing will be collected and donated to a local charity. Items should be clean and placed in a tightly tied clear bag next to the recyclables cart on your collection day. Receipts not provided.
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Newark
Oakland
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Piedmont
Pleasanton
San Leandro
Bagged clean/dry textiles are collected during your regular collection day on the first full week of June and October for all residents. See sanleandrosorts.com/textile for what clean/dry items to collect for reuse and recycling. Bags will be picked up by a separate vehicle. No donation receipts provided.
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San Leandro (Oro Loma - L3)
San Lorenzo (Oro Loma)
Unincorporated Oro Loma (L1)
Union City

RE:Source is an online directory for reuse, repair and proper disposal options for the California East Bay area and Palo Alto. Our goal is to connect you with the best options for what you need to get rid of or repair. Please note that we do not accept any items directly.

If you have questions or feedback about this directory, please get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.

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