City of New Bedford, MA and CMRK Inc. Collaborate for Home Pickups of Clothing and Small Household Items

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): The City of New Bedford and CMRK, Inc. have partnered in the new Curbside Donation Program where residents easily donate clothing, sheets, towels, shoes, and small household items to be reused, repurposed or upcycled. All New Bedford residents can schedule an appointment to have their gently used clothing and small household items picked up at their front doors! The first two pickup dates are January 3, 2025, and January 31, 2025. Pickups will be offered by CMRK monthly on specific dates.

“We are excited to help New Bedford residents give their clothing, sheets, towels, shoes, and other accepted items a new life. Donating clothing helps the environment, helps save taxpayers money and helps support the work of Big Brother Big Sister mentoring agencies. We look forward to having a great mutually beneficial partnership for years to come,” said Jennifer Vieira, Director of Facilities & Fleet Management.

CMRK Inc. will pick up the following items:

•          In a bag: Clothing (all types, sizes, and styles), blankets, towels, curtains, tablecloths, all paired shoes and sneakers, accessories (e.g., purses, backpacks, belts, jewelry, hats, gloves, socks) and more. No wet or moldy items. Make sure bags are clearly labeled with CMRK.
•          In a box: Kitchen accessories (e.g., pots, pans, dishes, glasses), small working appliances (e.g., coffee maker and small toaster oven) and small décor items (e.g., vases, knick-knacks, picture frames, and paintings.) Also, small musical instruments, books, toys, puzzles, and DVDs. Please wrap glassware to keep the items protected. No broken items. Make sure boxes are closed and clearly labeled with CMRK.
•          Bicycles are accepted – tape sign with CMRK on bike and place bike by front door or curbside.

“CMRK Inc collects, separates, and upcycles goods locally in Massachusetts, with a goal of prolonging the lifecycle of second-hand items while simultaneously promoting circularity. CMRK Inc is proud to partner with the City of New Bedford to help promote long-term sustainability,” said Patrick El Khoury, Vice President of Operations, CMRK Inc. There are also many clothing bins around the area that accept clothing, shoes, sheets, towels, bags, belts, and purses. The items must be clean, dry, and not smelly. It is okay if they are ripped or stained; they can be turned into wiping cloths, insulation, or carpet padding.

“The Refuse District is happy to have provided support to the City of New Bedford on this new program because it will offer another opportunity and convenient home pickups for residents who need to move these items along,” said Anthony Novelli, Executive Director of the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District. “Clothing, footwear, bedding, curtains, fabric, and similar items are banned from going in the trash by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection because there are plenty of opportunities to reuse or repurpose these materials instead of throwing them away. We appreciate this new partnership that helps keep usable clothing and household goods out of the Crapo Hill landfill, which is a valuable asset to our community and should be reserved for materials with no better alternatives.”

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com