Schenectady Resident Tackles Fashion Waste with Community Clothing Swaps

Keywords:Sustainable FashionClothing Waste ReductionCommunity Clothing SwapsSchenectady Sustainability InitiativesWardrobe OptimizationJasenya McCauley, a Schenectady resident, is taking action to address the growing issue of fashion waste in her local community. Partnering with Schenectady County Recycles, McCauley is organizing a series of events aimed at reducing clothing insecurity and promoting sustainable fashion practices.

Empowering the Community to Reduce Fashion Waste

Tackling the Fashion Waste Crisis in Schenectady County

Schenectady County currently generates over 7,200 tons of fashion waste, accounting for 3.86% of the county's municipal solid waste. This staggering statistic has prompted McCauley to take action and find innovative solutions to address this pressing environmental concern. Through her research, she has discovered that thousands of tons of deadstock clothing, particularly from fast fashion companies, as well as second-hand clothing, end up in waste sites each year, both locally and globally.

Empowering the Community through Clothing Swaps

To combat this issue, McCauley is organizing two events in partnership with Schenectady County Recycles. The first event, called "Drip Drop," is a community clothing drop-off scheduled for June 15th at the Electric City Barn. During this event, community members can donate their gently used clothing, and McCauley will hold workshops on how to optimize and repair their wardrobes, promoting a more sustainable approach to fashion.The second event, "Pick-A-Fit," is a community clothing pick-up event scheduled for June 22nd, also at the Electric City Barn. This event aims to provide an opportunity for community members to refresh their wardrobes with donated clothing, addressing the issue of clothing insecurity in Schenectady.

Fostering Collaboration and Raising Awareness

McCauley has been working closely with local environmental groups, including Zero Waste Capital District, Schenectady County Recycles, the Schenectady County Environmental Advisory Council, and the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling, to develop these initiatives and raise awareness about the importance of sustainable fashion practices.Khila Pecoraro, the recycling and composting educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension, emphasizes the significance of these events, stating, "What I would love for people to understand about local clothing waste is that — just like everything else — every bit matters. Over 60% of the clothing manufactured today is made with plastic, and while this is sometimes a form of recycling, many times the makeup of these items is from virgin materials. We're so easily influenced to buy new and often; if we can take that desire for change and learn how to get creative with what we already have, we can all make a real difference."

Addressing Clothing Insecurity in Schenectady

In addition to promoting sustainability, McCauley's initiatives also aim to address the issue of clothing insecurity in Schenectary. Growing up in the area, McCauley recognized the disparity in access to clothing, and she believes that these events can make a meaningful impact on the community."There's a large population of people in Schenectady that would benefit from your gently used clothing," Pecoraro said. "We're hosting this free event to connect people in the community, providing a space to learn about clothing waste while also making a difference by keeping their clothing out of the landfill and giving it a second life with someone who could use it."

Establishing a Sustainable Fashion Movement

McCauley hopes that these events will become regular occurrences, serving as a pilot program to address the growing issue of textile waste in Schenectady County and beyond. By fostering a sense of community, raising awareness, and providing practical solutions, McCauley aims to inspire a sustainable fashion movement that can have a lasting impact on the local and global environment."This is a pilot to hopefully start to just really dig into what's going on with this textile waste," McCauley said. "If we keep doing these [events] every couple of months . . . I would love to see the numbers at the end of the year to see if we put a dent in that 7,200 tons."Through her dedication and the support of the local community, McCauley is leading the charge in transforming the way Schenectady residents approach fashion and clothing consumption. By empowering individuals to make more sustainable choices and providing access to gently used clothing, she is paving the way for a more eco-conscious future.