Volunteers from the Jamaica-based nonprofit, FabScrap, sorted through pounds of fabric leftovers on Monday. They pulled out small scraps of materials like spandex, cotton and polyester so they can be properly recycled.
Officials with the organization say textile recycling is a very underserved market.
"Prior to this I worked at the department of sanitation,” explains Fabscrap founder Jessica Schreiber. “I was running the city's clothing recycling program and brands were calling into that program wanting to do something with their textile waste and the infrastructure just didn't really exist for them."
Volunteer Annie Keating adds, “It is really apparent that the industry is not yet as green as it could be, that there is a long way to go.”
Larger pieces are put aside to be sold to local artists and designers at a discounted price.
During their first year of operation, Fabscrap recycled more than 55 percent of the 22 thousand pounds of fabric they collected.
To learn more about the organization, visit fabscrap.org.