The new curbside textile collection is starting next week.
For the collection, which starts Sept. 9, residents can put out material-based items such as clothing, shoes, towels or sheets. The items can be in any condition.
Talize Inc. is running the program at no cost to the city, and the municipality receives 11 cents per kilogram on all the textiles collected.
According to the City of Timmins, residents with curbside collection will be receiving a clear plastic bag and flyer from Talize with instructions.
"Moving forward, we would like to expand the program with bins throughout the city and Talize will also be reaching out to private properties for bins. Once some data is collected there will be many opportunities for growth within this program, said Christina Beaton, City of Timmins environmental co-ordinator, in a news release. "One of the areas we are highlighting with this partnership is that ripped textiles and those no longer viable for resale will not be landfilled but rather sent to a textile recycling facility."
The collection is part of a one-year pilot project Timmins council approved in May.
Talize is a Canadian-owned thrift store with 11 locations, nine of which are in Ontario and two in British Columbia.
While the company doesn't currently have a Northern Ontario thrift store, the company has a goal of expanding up to 25 stores.
CCS Group principal Ron Gersh told TimminsToday earlier this year that the decision on where the new stores will go is a business case is based on volume.
The curbside program is another way for local residents to recycle textiles.
There are already ways to donate such as St. Anthony's, Value Village, the Diabetes Canada donation bins, and there is also the new Friends of Pets store supporting the Timmins and District Humane Society in South Porcupine.
When council talked about the program in the spring, the staff report estimated it could divert about 160 tonnes from the landfill annually.
"In order to reduce waste sent to landfill, the city is continuously looking to expand all diversion programs," said Mayor George Pirie in a news release. "This partnership is wonderful for everyone involved, directly and indirectly. Not only is it great for our community, it is great for our planet."
