City of Long Beach Offers Textile Drop‑Off Event to Give Unwanted Textiles a New Life

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Department of Energy & Environmental Services (EES), in partnership with SUAY, a Los Angeles-based closed-loop recycling company, will host a free Recycle Your Textiles event to collect residents' unwanted textiles for recycling and remaking. This one-time event will take place at three locations across Long Beach on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until capacity is reached.

"We're proud to offer residents this opportunity to responsibly recycle and remake their unwanted textiles," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "When residents take part, they help reduce waste, build a more sustainable future and keep textiles out of landfills. Together, we can turn what might otherwise be discarded into something with new purpose."

The Recycle Your Textiles event will provide residents with a convenient and responsible way to ensure their unwanted textiles are properly recycled and remade. Textiles cannot be recycled if placed in curbside recycling carts as they cause contamination and must be removed and landfilled after collection. To help reduce waste, three convenient drop-off locations will be available for residents to bring unwanted textiles on Jan. 31:

• Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St., 90813)
• Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave., 90805)
• El Dorado Park West (2760 E. Barrios St., 90815)

Residents may bring up to two standard 13-gallon bags of textiles per person. Accepted items include clothing, towels and light blankets. Textiles with tears, holes or rips will be accepted. Items not accepted include undergarments such as socks, bras and underwear; sheets, pillowcases and duvets; stuffed items such as pillows and comforters; animal furs; and children's clothing.

SUAY will collect, clean and remake textiles to create new products. Finished products include repaired clothing and remade goods such as pillows and dog beds, which use stuffing from shredded garments that could not be restored.

"We are excited to bring the community together this January with a no-cost textile drop-off event that inspires action around waste reduction and reuse," said Bob Dowell, Director of Energy & Environmental Services. "Creative partners such as SUAY play a vital role in remaking textiles, and we're proud to spotlight those who make it easier for residents to choose sustainable options every day."

This event is not a donation drive. Residents with new or gently used, high-quality clothing and textiles are encouraged to donate them to a local charitable organization or shelter instead. For recommendations, see the City's Donation Guide.

Funding for the one-time event comes from a grant awarded by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. For updates and more details, visit lbcity.info/textilerecycling.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Department of Energy & Environmental Services visit longbeach.gov/lbrecycles and follow @lbrecycles on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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