Spokane outdoor specialty retailer Mountain Gear has begun collecting used textiles at its store at 2002 North Division in Spokane, WA for recycling. 


As part of an ongoing commitment to sustainability, Mountain Gear is helping customers better manage their waste stream and reduce the environmental impact of their activities.

Mountain Gear is accepting a variety of items, including footwear, jackets, pants, shirts, socks, tents, harnesses, backpacks and other cloth-based items. Collected items will be sent to a textile recycling facility. Usable products will be reused through secondhand markets; unusable items will be recycled into new materials and fibers. To help extend product life, Mountain Gear provides information on repair services and connects customers with local repair options.


As awareness of sustainability and environmental challenges grow, consumers and companies are looking for new ways to reduce their impact. Textile waste currently accounts for 5% of household solid waste streams, totaling 12.4 million tons per year (EPA). Textile recycling results in 93-95% of collected items being diverted from landfills (Whitehouse and Schapiro, Retex Northwest).


Currently, only 10% of textiles are reused or recycled; Mountain Gear is hoping to raise those rates in the Spokane area. If you'd like more information on textile disposal in the US, please visit http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/textiles.htm.