Who We Are

Trans-Continental Textile Recycling Ltd (TCTR) is a British Columbia owned and operated company that has processed recycled textiles since 1990.  Over fifteen years ago TCTR developed a locally based recycling programme that enables the public to recycle their unwanted clothing and, by doing so, help generate hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for local charities, schools, and non- profit organizations.  TCTR is unique as it offers the only collection service that funds a broad spectrum of locally based charitable organizations and the only organisation in BC that takes full responsibility for the complete processing and distribution of all the textiles collected, from usable clothing to industrial wiping rags and textile waste. We also offer confidential and environmentally responsible solutions for the disposal of uniforms, promotional clothing and other clothing and textile items that are no longer required and that require specialized handling. Trans-Continental creates jobs here, in Canada  All material is processed in Canada. Not one pound of unprocessed material is shipped out of Canada.

When waste has value, it stops being waste

When something has negative value, there’s little incentive to deal with it. It gets left to randomness, or public resources and taxpayers to deal with - and to suffer the consequences. Fortunately used textiles do have utility and value, and this creates opportunity to divert textiles out of the waste stream, revive the product’s life, or reincarnate the raw materials.

Unlike most consumer waste, like plastics, paper, glass, or food, there are no publicly funded programs, or industry led extended producer responsibility initiatives, or recycling fees levied on the purchase of clothing and textiles. For profit enterprises like ours prevent or minimize textile waste. The debate of profit versus not for profit is a false debate, because no matter who handles used and donated clothing, all of it travels through commercial channels.

Investment, revenue, expense and profit drive textile waste markets. Revenue and profit are the financial resources that get the work done well, and crucially, deliver the funding to support charitable and community organizations. Our relationships with these groups are essential, interdependent partnerships.