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
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.
Mountain View Recycling Center 935 Terra Bella Ave Mountain View Recycle Free Drop-off Only Mountain View residents can recycle this here.
Ridwell Recycle Pick-up for a Fee Have recycling partners for clean, very stained, ripped, thread-worn textiles. (To note: City of Alameda Ridwell client's have their textiles shredded to be made into shoddy for carpet padding and vehicle seat stuffing (so be sure to only send clean, poor condition textiles.) Donate anything in good condition elsewhere.)
Goodwill (Pittsburg) 396 Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic Plaza Shopping Center 		Pittsburg Recycle Free Drop-off Accepts clean salvage quality textiles.
Goodwill (Berkeley) 2058 University Ave Berkeley 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.
Zara (Walnut Creek) 1275 Broadway Plaza Walnut Creek Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry
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.
Cycla PO BOX 669 Johnstown Recycle Mail-in for a Fee Specializing in used clothing, credential and mixed rags (MIR). We connect sellers and buyers globally, enabling our suppliers to efficiently and responsibly manage overstock and excess thrift store products. Cycla BUYS secondary materials, including used clothing, shoes, accessories, bric-a-brac, and more, to ensure they are responsibly reused.
Recycle for Change (Angel Wash House) 5205 3rd St. San Francisco Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry; bagged to stay clean and dry.
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.
Goodwill (Brentwood) 6271 Lone Tree Way
Empire Shopping Center 		Brentwood Recycle Free Drop-off Accepts clean salvage quality textiles.
Goodwill (Livermore) 1374 Railroad Ave
(Livermore Arcade Shopping Center) 		Livermore 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.
USAgain 321 Middlefield Rd Menlo Park Recycle Free Drop-off Clean and dry. All textiles deposited into bin should be in closed plastic bags.
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.
Goodwill (Fairfield - New Larger Format) 1500 Oliver Rd Fairfield Recycle Free Drop-off Accepts clean salvage quality textiles.
Vespene Recycle Pick-up for a Fee, Mail-in for a Fee Large quantity. We provide compliant, transparent, and traceable textile recycling solutions for brands, manufacturers, and distributors seeking responsible end of life pathways for their materials. Our focus is on measurable recovery, documented chain of custody, and regulatory alignment, including Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks and emerging textile legislation. Processes old clothes into shredded fibers for use in punching bags and mattresses. https://www.linkedin.com/company/vespene-recycling/ Through secure handling, certified processing, and audit ready documentation, we enable companies to protect their brand, meet compliance requirements, and strengthen their ESG commitments.
Zkano Sock Recycling Program Emi-G Knitting (ATTN: Zkano Recycles Program)
1715 Airport Rd 		Ft Payne Recycle Free Mail-in Old socks only, regardless of what brand they are or what materials they are made of. Mail socks to listed address. User pays for shipping. Sock manufacturer who collects clean ripped, torn, stained socks to be recycled with their textile waste into fiber for carpet padding in the automotive industry.
Goodwill (Albany) 505 San Pablo Ave Albany 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.
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.
Supercircle Recycle Free Mail-in For anyone to use. Clean stained, ripped, damaged textiles, accessories, linens, & shoes. SuperCircle has recycling programs for 75+ brands. (4/26 only 10 have online rewards program). Create an account, choose the brand you want to recycle with, pack up your items using the prepaid shipping label (or drop-off in-store if the brand offers it). Drop-off items at USPS (or select brand stores) to earn rewards (may include discount codes or on average $5/item) to shop with selected brand which can be redeemed individually through their site. SuperCircle uses a technology-powered platform that sorts apparel, footwear, accessories, and home textiles into their most sustainable outcome, which includes over 50 reuse and recycling streams including fiber to fiber recycling feeds. Downcycling & stockpiling feedstock to provide textile recyclers with when recyclers have a solution for it.

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.

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