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
AA's Tailors & Cleaners 3251 Castro Valley Blvd Castro Valley Repair Drop-off for a Fee Cleaning and alterations
ReUse: CAL's Campus Thrift Store 2495 Bancroft Way
MLK Student Union (between Superb & OCF offices) 		Berkeley Repair Free Drop-off Repair clinic repairs: tears/holes, patches, buttons, zippers. FREE clothing repair service for UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff.
Jacquie's Sew & Sew 847 Emerson St. Palo Alto Repair Drop-off for a Fee Repairs: tailoring, clothes and textiles
Mimi's Custom Design & Alterations 366 17th St Oakland Repair Drop-off for a Fee
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.
Green Earth Dry Cleaner Locator 51 West 135th Street Kansas City Repair Drop-off for a Fee Online locator for green dry cleaning
Jila tailoring studio 205 Main St Pleasanton Repair Drop-off for a Fee
Essy's Tailoring & Alterations 39184 Paseo Padre Pkwy Fremont Repair Drop-off for a Fee
Sentient Engine Makerspace 2630 Union St Oakland Repair On-site for a Fee Makerspace with sewing bay to DIY repairs or create your own clothing, textile art, etc.
Patagonia 525 Alma St Palo Alto Repair Drop-off for a Fee, Mail-in for a Fee Repairs: outerwear, bottoms, luggage, fasteners, tops
Monika's California Apparel & Alterations 148 Ray St # D Pleasanton Repair Drop-off for a Fee
The Mending Collective 1037 57th St Oakland Repair Free Mail-in Informational Website. Mending collective. See website for upcoming events to join or workshops to have them host. Instagram: @mending_collective
John the Fashion Tailor 4129 Broadway Oakland Repair Drop-off for a Fee
Essy's Tailoring & Clothier 4555 Hopyard Rd # 18 Pleasanton Repair Drop-off for a Fee
A Z Alteration & Cleaners 3875 Piedmont Ave Oakland Repair Drop-off for a Fee
The Cobblery 410 S California Ave Palo Alto Repair Drop-off for a Fee, Mail-in for a Fee Repairs: Bags, zippers, shoes, leather items
Mr. Feng Tailor Studio 4008 Piedmont Ave Oakland Repair Drop-off for a Fee
FixIt Clinic (In-person & Virtual) Repair Free On-site, Free Off-site Self-repair through the Global Fixers Server on Discord or through Zoom FixIt Clinics.
Estrella Designs 220 Division St Pleasanton Repair Drop-off for a Fee
Advanced European Tailoring 2808 Adeline St Berkeley 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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