What is it?

Textiles are fabrics woven or knitted of natural or man-made materials. Carpets are heavy floor coverings woven of wool or synthetic fibers.

Why recycle textiles and carpet?

Textiles and carpets in the landfill are a wasted resource because the fibers can be re-manufactured into new products such as new carpeting or insulation. Textiles in good condition can be reused or turned into rags, which in turned can be recycled into paper. Carpet is currently more difficult to recycle than textiles, but as part of the Carpet America Recovery Effort external link , government agencies and the carpet industry have set the goal to divert 40 percent of waste carpet from landfills by 2012.

What can you do?

• Northwest Center external link , a local non-profit agency, accepts textiles for reuse or recycling at the following King County Transfer Stations: Cedar Falls, Enumclaw, Houghton, Renton, Shoreline and Vashon.
• To find additional companies and organizations that accept textiles for recycling, visit the What do I do with…? Web site.