Watch CBS News

Green Business Sets Up Shop in Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KCBS) - A green business that specializes in diverting textile materials from landfills is establishing itself in the Bay Area.

The company is called USAgain, and its green and white drop boxes are popping up in the area.

"We see ourselves as a collection company of used textiles, which is a recyclable commodity just like your aluminum, your plastic, your cardboard," explained president Janice Bostic.

Click to listen

Podcast

So far, the drop boxes have been placed in Los Altos, Sunnyvale and Mountain View. 100 boxes will be placed throughout the Bay Area in the coming weeks.

"We'll be hiring some drivers and warehouse staff over the course of the next couple of weeks so we can start emptying the boxes and placing more boxes," Bostic said.

The clothing is taken to a warehouse in Hayward, where it is sold to thrift stores and wholesalers, who sort the textiles and in some cases, sell fibers to the recycling industry.

"We think that you don't have to be a nonprofit to do good. There are a lot of green companies that you know, are socially conscious, want to have a good workplace and provide a healthy environment and we like to considered among those," she said.

The company operates in 10 other U.S. markets. In 2009, the company diverted 54 million pounds of used clothing from landfills.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.