Helpsy and the NYC Department of Sanitation: Expanding Textile Collection and Creating Meaningful Jobs for New Yorkers with Disabilities Together

Helpsy is proud to announce that it is now working with the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID) to expand NYC’s ability to recycle textiles. As a Certified B Corp committed to keeping textiles out of landfills and providing honorable work, Helpsy is facilitating collection for DSNY’s Textile Recycling Program across all five boroughs in NYC.

DSNY’s Textile Recycling Program is currently available to NYC buildings with 10 or more units. Visit nyc.gov/textilecollection to enroll your building in this free program. Enrolled buildings are provided a collection bin from Helpsy to collect clothing, footwear, and accessories, and Helpsy will pick up the items at no cost.

In partnership with NYSID, Helpsy is creating jobs for people with disabilities to help collect and sort the materials from this program. Using Helpsy’s proprietary sorting technology, team members evaluate each item by brand and condition to determine its next life. The best textiles from this sorting process are purchased by other secondhand sellers for reuse. Items that are not desirable to be worn or used are repurposed as cleaning rags. Items that are considered unusable are downcycled into insulation, carpet padding, and stuffing. Through this partnership, Helpsy can provide full-time, competitive-wage, local jobs for people with disabilities, and protect our environment.

Helpsy is proud to support hundreds of nonprofits, community groups, brands, and secondhand stores in NYC and beyond. To learn more or get involved, contact us at info@helpsy.com.