Gabriola Island's Re-Store offers second hand items at a fraction of new and serves as a key cog to making the Gulf Island a zero-waste community. (submitted/GIRO)

By Alex Rawnsley

REDUCE.REUSE.RECYCLE.

Gabriola Island non-profit breathing new life into old clothes

Jan 30, 2021 | 8:58 AM

GABRIOLA ISLAND — Reduction of clothing and textile waste in the region is top of mind for a local non-profit.

Gabriola Island Recycling Organization (GIRO) received $103,044 in RDN funding for a textile recycling project designed to divert unsellable clothes away from the landfill.

Michelle MacEwen, GIRO general manager, told NanaimoNewsNOW the end goal is to minimalize their waste stream from the thousands of clothes and materials they collect, diverting 52,000 pounds of textile waste a year from the landfill.

“Because we’re getting more and more textile waste, we have a free supply here of material that can be used and turned into something else.”

GIRO receives around 100 bags of clothing from local residents every week. Around half of the clothing is immediately put up for sale through a retail store.

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Of the clothes destined to be discarded, just over half are either too dirty or stained to be sold, or are worn out. The remaining clothes are either badly wrinkled, not fashionable or sellable or out of season.

Through the RDN grant, MacEwen hopes to drastically reduce what leaves Gabriola Island in a garbage bag.

“The items of clothing that are really worn out, bagged out, pilled, stretched, clothing that’s had a good innings…we thought if we washed and shredded it, it could be used in something stuffed.”

Taking such steps does more than just minimalize the environmental footprint of local residents.

MacEwen tracked items discarded by GIRO through Diabetes Canada which collects hundreds of bags a year from the region and sells them onto places like Value Village.

Clothes which don’t make the rack there are often downloaded to second-hand clothing markets in Kenya which create issues for their economy.

Money from the RDN will be used to purchase laundry and sewing equipment to help up-cycle lightly damaged donations and bolster the shelves in the Re-Store.

Clothes no longer suitable for wear will be transformed into stuffing for exercise equipment, quilting supplies or used to create new articles of clothing.

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alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley