Reuse & Recycling Center - Gaia Movement USA
Mary K. Abeleda
Published: March 30, 2011
We started the Gaia Movement USA with the mission of working for the survival of the human species, our fellow living organisms and the living planet, Gaia.
Over the past 12 years, Gaia found that reusing and recycling clothes and shoes is the most beneficial and viable activity that we can do on a large scale to help save the environment.
Our original objective was to establish natural reserves, preserve virgin lands and natural habitats for plants and animals, and produce carbon dioxide neutral energy within the frame of deep ecology. However, we recognize that such activities demand large continuous funds and that a small not for profit organization like ours is not yet capable of raising such funds. We are not there yet but we are very proud to say that through our Clothes Reuse and Recycling Program, Gaia has contributed significantly to helping protect and preserve our environment.
According to the US Environmental Protective Agency, Americans generate 12.5 million tons of textile waste each year, 97% of which is recyclable. Only 10 to 15% of used clothes and shoes are donated to charities and clothing recyclers like Gaia. The rest end up in our landfills.
When people buy used clothes, it helps decrease the strain on our ecosystems. Reusing clothes helps reduce environmental degradation from the manufacturing of new clothes and the associated transportation of new raw materials such as cotton and other textile fibers. Producing one pound of new clothes requires an averageof 723 gallons of water, 0.3 pounds of fertilizer, 0.2 pounds of pesticides and creates 3.6 pounds of greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide in the process.
In 2010, Gaia collected 5.5 million pounds of clothes and shoes that were recycled and reused. By doing so, Gaia helped save 4 million gallons of water, 1.7 million pounds of fertilizer, 1.1 million pounds of pesticides, and 19.8 million pounds of greenhouse gasses from entering the atmosphere. We also stopped these items from decomposing and emitting dangerous gases like carbon dioxide and methane which contribute to the effects of climate change.
Also in 2010, Gaia placed 200 additional clothes collection bins in Illinois, Indiana, and California. Gaia bins can be found in metropolitan cities such as Chicago, Fort Wayne, Sacramento, and Fresno. The presence of Gaia's clothes collection bins throughout these communities continues to raise awareness and educate the public about the need to protect our environment locally and globally.
To find the nearest Gaia collection bin in your community, please visit Earth911.com and in the "Find Recycling Centers For" box type in clothes then in the "Near" box type in your zip code or address and a list of the nearest Gaia collection bins will appear.
The proceeds from Gaia's clothing sales are used to co-fund several environmental projects in Africa and India. Gaia funds the Connect International Project which provides low cost technologies to access water and sanitation in Mozambique and Zambia. Gaia also co-funds the Pumps for Life project in Zambia, the Biofuels project in Guinea Bissau, the Eco-Service Center and the Solar Energy project in India, all of which help empower poor farming communities.
Additionally, Gaia continues to donate toys and books to children in need and winter coats to the homeless. If your organization wants to request books, toys, and winter coat donations please contact our office. Gaia tries to fulfill donation requests based on the availability of these items.
We also run our own urban community garden, host workshops, give educational presentations, and mobilize cleanup projects which benefit local communities.
As a small non-profit organization, we are so grateful to have the unyielding support and generosity of our partners, donors, enthusiastic volunteers and the communities that we continue to serve.
For more information please visit www.gaia-movement-usa.org or call (773) 580- 3512.