The Center for Ecological Technology will hold its 8th annual Used Clothing and Textile Drive to collect, reuse and recycle old clothing and household textiles.
The event will be held in partnership with Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires to help celebrate the 33rd anniversary of Earth Day. The drive will take place on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clothing can be brought to CET, 112 Elm Street, in Pittsfield. Additional regional drop-off sites are also available (listed below).
Last year's textile drive collected over 25 tons of materials from drop-off sites throughout Berkshire County. Goodwill resells the wearable clothing at its local stores and sends the remainder to the textile market. Additionally, Goodwill uses the collection, sorting and retail sales as job training for individuals with barriers to employment. Last year, Goodwill provided services to 122 individuals in eight different programs. The event is coordinated with assistance from the Southern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District, the Tri-Town Health Department (Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge), Berkshire Bank, Lee Bank-Pittsfield Loan Office and Banknorth Massachusetts.
All types of clothing are accepted, including sweaters, shirts, skirts, pants, jackets, overcoats and raincoats. Blankets, gloves, socks, paired shoes, sheets, towels, curtains are also acceptable. Clothing can be torn and stained but must be clean, dry and delivered in plastic bags. Rugs and carpeting will not be accepted.
CET’s main goals for this drive are to provide education about re-use and recycling to the Berkshire community.
“The number of households, community organizations, and businesses continue to increase each year†said Alan Silverstein, CET Co-Director. “Our partnership with Goodwill allows for many of the textiles collected to remain in Berkshire County and provide a local opportunity for re-use and job creation, an integral part of Goodwill’s mission.â€
Drop-off sites located around the county are designed to make it easier for Berkshire County residents to participate in the textile collection effort. To date, the following sites have been confirmed.
The Great Barrington site and drop-off schedule is: Berkshire South Regional Community Center, 15 Crissey Road, (April 12-27 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday).
Additional South County sites include: The Tri-Town Health Department, 45 Railroad Street, Lee ( April 18–27, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.); and Old Parish Church, Main St., Sheffield (April 21– 27, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).
Central and North County sites include: The Washington Transfer Station, Rte. 8 (April 23, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.); BFI, 485 S. State Road, Cheshire (April 19–27, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.); Lanesborough Town Hall, 83 N. Main Street (April 14, 15, 17 and 18, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., April 16th, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.); Goodwill Industries, 158 Tyler Street., Pittsfield (April 26, 11 am - 3 pm) Clarksburg Town Hall, 111 River Road (April 21–25, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.); Center for Environmental Studies, Williams College, Kellogg House, 41 Mission Park Drive, Williamstown (April 21- 27, Weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Weekends 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.) Goodwill Industries, 150 Howland Ave., (Just off Route 8), Adams (April 26, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.).
The North Adams’ site is the Northern Berkshire YMCA, 22 Brickyard Court (April 21– 25, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., April 26, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and April 27, 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
For more information on the Textile Drive, call Amy Johns or Jamie Cahillane at CET, (413) 445-4556 or (800) 238-1221 or go to http://www.cetonline.org/Home/textile drive.htm.
Founded in 1976, CET is a non-profit community organization active in the fields of energy and resource conservation, renewable energy and waste management. With offices in Pittsfield and Northampton, CET is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires, Inc. is the oldest non-profit Vocational Rehabilitation organization in Berkshire County. Founded in 1953, Goodwill provides employment and training services through "Power Of Work Employment Resources" for people who have barriers to employment. Goodwill operates 4 thrift stores in Berkshire County and southern Vermont along with a commercial janitorial service "Good N' Clean".
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Winter Storm Warning Issued for Berkshires
Another snowstorm is expected to move through the region overnight on Friday, bringing 5 to 8 inches of snow. This is updated from Thursday's winter weather advisory.
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has posted a winter storm warning for all of Berkshire County and parts of eastern New York State beginning Friday at 4 p.m. through Saturday at 1 p.m.
The region could see heavy to moderate snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, tapering off Saturday morning to flurries.
Drivers should exercise caution on Friday night and Saturday morning, as travel conditions may be hazardous.
Saturday night should be clear and calm, but warming temperatures means freezing rain Sunday night and rain through Monday with highs in the 40s. The forecast isn't much better through the week as temperatures dip back into the teens with New Year's Eve looking cloudy and frigid.
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