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
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.
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.
El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center 7501 Schmidt Ln. El Cerrito Recycle Free Drop-off Clean clothing, scrap shoes and all textiles can be bagged and placed in the USAgain green and white bins. Including: torn and/or stained condition pillows, towels, sheets, and machine washable rugs.
Goodwill (Richmond) 12341 San Pablo Avenue Richmond Recycle Free Drop-off Accepts clean salvage quality textiles.
Salvation Army Store 1806 Linda Dr. Pleasant Hill Recycle Free Drop-off Bag clean ripped, stained, worn fabric/clothing. Resold on the textile market for the rags market, carpet padding/seat stuffing and recycling.
Levi's Retail Store 5461 Bay St Emeryville Recycle Free Drop-off, Drop-off for a Fee, Buyback Drop-off Any brand of denim clothing for upcycling. Fee for tailoring by appt. Buyback for Levi's jeans & jackets.
Northface Outlet 1238 Fifth St Berkeley Recycle Free Drop-off, Buyback Drop-off Accepts Northface apparel and gear only for Renewed processing. See website.Join XPLR Pass™ and when you trade in your old gear, you’ll receive a $10 credit, valid online and in stores*.
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.
Goodwill (Hayward) 21994 Mission Blvd Hayward 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.
Goodwill (Pleasant Hill) 1699 Contra Costa Boulevard
Gregory Village Shopping Center 		Pleasant Hill Recycle Free Drop-off Accepts clean salvage quality textiles.
Goodwill (Oakland - MacArthur) 3525 MacArthur Blvd Oakland 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.
Madewell 1901 Fourth St
Suite 104 		Berkeley Recycle Free Drop-off Denim. clean and dry.
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.
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.

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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