Wednesday, February 26

The new threads: Rewearables and Recyclables

This pilot splits threads into two streams: rewearable clothes & shoes and recyclable textiles—both included with every pickup.

Highlights of the pilot program:

3X the threads volume, included in your membership

A new and bigger bag for rewearable clothes and shoes

A dedicated home for your recyclable threads

REWEARABLES

Maximizing Reuse

From closet cleanups, kids’ growth spurts, or retiring some old favorites, we’re adding a new, bigger bag for your preloved clothes, shoes, and accessories.
Our partner, Cycla, prioritizes local reuse, making sure that your reusable clothes find a new home and stay out of the landfill. Plus the bag gets recycled!

RECYCLABLES

Creating fresh fibers

From socks with more holes than fabric to worn-out t-shirts, these textiles aren't trash just yet.
Our partner Phoenix Fibers works magic on these forgotten fabrics, transforming them into everything from car interiors to building materials. By recycling, we're saving the energy and resources it takes to create new fibers—proving that even the most well-loved clothes can find a second life.

How it works:

1

REWEARABLES

Use your bigger bag for used clothes and shoes

We heard your requests for a bigger bag! Use it for preloved clothes, shoes, and accessories in good condition.

  • Clothing

  • Shoes

  • Hats

  • Purses

  • Belts

2

RECYCLABLES

Use your threads bag for the stuff that can’t be reused

Continue to use your threads bag for things like socks, blankets, and clothes you wouldn’t give to a friend.

  • Worn, holey, stained clothes

  • Underwear and socks

  • Fabric scraps

  • Towels

  • Blanket and linens

See what goes where Download the guide >

Reusing or recycling just 10 pounds of clothing is equivalent to taking a car off the road for an entire week.

FAQ

  • Yes! There’s no additional charge for one bag each of rewearable clothes & shoes and recyclable threads per pickup. Additional bags can be added for a small fee on our dashboard. 

  • No! The bag is quite large and can be placed next to your bin.

  • Please see the downloadable guide above. We’ll also share pages with photographs of even more items that are included and excluded from this category in the next week. Feel free to email help@Ridwell.com with specific questions.

  • With this change, there will be a period of time when the legacy threads bag shows illustrations and a list that include some items that no longer belong in that bag. Please refer to the printable guide linked above on this page instead. This way, we keep our existing bags in use and out of landfills as long as possible.

  • We currently can’t accept some textiles. These include: anything broken, moldy, or wet; single shoes; items with plastic layers, such as bathmats and garden gloves; cushions and pillows; rugs; comforters; shower curtains; neoprene items; pet items; and more. Please email help@ridwell.com with specific questions.

  • Yes! We’ll continue to pick up clothing like winter coats in featured categories to answer the call of local nonprofits who distribute goods in your community. We’re proud to help you help your community in this way and it works great when we’re meeting a stated need.

  • Of course! It’ll stay out of landfills.

  • You know your clothes best! We need your help in figuring out what the next best life is for your stuff.

    Thanks for your help keeping your stuff out of the landfill.

  • We will begin dropping off your new Rewearable bag starting on 2/10, according to your regularly scheduled pickup day.

  • We currently plan to run this program for three months. During the pilot, we’ll be tracking what comes in and how much material we are reusing and recycling.

    Based on your feedback and the data we collect during this period, we will determine whether to continue this program or find a different path for your threads!