We take stuff that is clean, new, gently used, or is in good enough shape to be reused - as well as stuff that isn’t! As long as it’s not wet, mildewed, or covered in hazardous materials, it can be reused or recycled.
Clothes
Shoes
In good condition, no holes and rewearable
Towels
All sizes and types of Bath Towels
Sheets
Fabric scraps
Fortunately, not very much! 95% of threads people throw out can avoid the landfill. Only a few categories cannot be reused or recycled.
Dirty clothes
Wash these and add them to your threads bag once they're clean!
Wet
Mildewed and moldy
Items with hazardous waste residue
Including solvents, fuel, paint, and oil
Undergarments
New or used panties, boxers, briefs, bras, socks or pantyhose
#60 denim or cotton insulation
Burnt items
The average American trashes 65 pounds of old clothing each year and nearly all of it could be reused or recycled!
This category, sometimes called ‘threads’ also includes shoes, towels, sheets, and other fabric materials.
Each Ridwell member receives a dedicated bag for all of their threads. We work with partners who will make sure they get to a better place than a landfill (or the back of your closet!)
Goodwill Industries of San Francisco Bay is a 501©3 nonprofit with 34 local retail stores, 33 donation sites, 2 warehouses, 2 Wholesale outlets, e-commerce and aftermarket operations that handle over one million donors per year. Goodwill equips low-income individuals and those with barriers with the skills required to succeed in the 21st century job market. They also hire their trainees to gain transferable skills and valuable on-the-job experience in their stores and warehouses. And for those motivated job seekers who want to pursue a sustainable career track, they help place them in jobs at top Bay Area companies. Goodwill strives to preserve the Bay Area landscape by diverting millions of pounds from landfills every year.