Salem Spring Clothing, Household Item Recycling Drive

SALEM, MA — Salem is hosting a wide-ranging donation and recycling drive May 1 involving everything from used shoes and sweaters to old toothbrushes and Swiffer household cleaning products.

The Textiles and TerraCycle Recycling Drive is a collaboration between SalemRecycles and HELPSY from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Riley Plaza.

The traditional program to help residents repurpose used clothing grew in November 2020 when SalemRecycles began accepting Swiffer products and razors for recycling through TerraCycle, a company that processes difficult-to-recycle items.

This spring, the recycle stream will open to even more household items — including oral care, deodorant containers and stationery products.

The clothing drive will accept clean and dry shoes, T-shirts, sweaters, belts, towels, curtains, bedspreads, purses, jackets, hats and gloves, backpacks, socks, jeans and related items. They will be restored and either resold or repurposed.

Household items accepted this year include dried Swiffer pads, razors, blades, cartridges, plastic containers, toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, mouthwash bottles, floss containers, oral care packaging, deodorant containers, pens and pencils, glue sticks, watercolor dispensers, paint sets and packaging.

Textiles and TerraCycles items should be packed separately for donation.

A complete list of items accepted can be found here.

The drive will be held following coronavirus safety protocols. Those attending should be masked, stay in their vehicles at all times and have items ready for touchless removal in a trunk, truck bed or hatchback.

Call 978-619-5672 or email mguglielmi@salem.com with any questions or if you are interested in volunteering.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)