Fairfax County, Virginia, expands textile recycling pilot

Fairfax County, Virginia, has expanded its textile recycling pilot, which it initially launched in early 2025 at the I-66 Transfer Station. In collaboration with New Jersey-based Helpsy, additional collection containers are now available at the I-95 Landfill Complex.

The Helpsy textile collection program provides residents with ways to recycle clothing, footwear, accessories, linens and other household fabrics. Items dropped off at Helpsy containers are sorted for their best use, including for resale, donation, upcycling or recycling, Fairfax County says.

Residents dropped off 49.3 tons of textiles through October 2025, which the county says prompted several operational changes, including the addition of more collection bins and increased service frequency. The program began with two bins at the West Ox Transfer Station serviced once per week. Due to demand, there are now six bins serviced twice weekly. The newly expanded site at the I-95 Landfill Complex now contains four bins serviced once weekly, with schedules adjusted as needed.

Fairfax County says it plans to expand textile collection opportunities to additional facilities as the pilot grows. The program supports the county’s long-term zero waste goal, which aims to divert 90 percent of the overall waste stream away from disposal.

The program’s partner, Helpsy, is a Certified B Corp., with a mission to “keep clothes out of the trash and create honorable work for all its employees,” according to its LinkedIn page. Helpsy says it collects 31 million pounds of textiles per year in collaboration with 1,500 communities, businesses and nonprofits.