Recycling program raises funds for Joplin's Salvation Army - KOAM TV 7

The Salvation Army in Joplin is not just interested in your unwanted clothing, the nonprofit wants to recycle your trash too.

Until Kim Cox joined the Salvation Army Advisory Board she had no idea about their recycling program.

"In the past year's I will admit to just throwing away items, I could have just brought them here and helped them raise more money," says Cox.

From broken bags to stained shirts, even toys and belts, the Salvation Army takes clothing that can't be used in store fronts and compresses it into bales to sell to the third world.

"We're paid by the pound for those things, so all of those jeans that might have the knee ripped out of them that we might not be able to sell in our store, we can recycle them here, and still generate some revenue from that for our programs here in Joplin," says Callie Hudson, the Director of Development for the Salvation Army.

According to the Salvation Army 82 cents of every $1 earned in revenue goes back to the community.

"All of that money stays here and takes care of our programs here in Joplin, our feeding program, our transitional housing program our after school programs, all of the things we do to serve the community is supported by that project," says Hudson.

Last year the project generated a total of $300,000 from 1.2 million pounds of trash.  That's something Cox says she wishes more people in the community knew more about.

"To keep that money locally and to be able to save and help people in the community, it is amazing to me, and I wish I would have done it sooner," says Cox.

Those looking to donate clothes to sell or recycle, the Salvation Army says donations can be made at its thrift store located at 7th and Kentucky in Joplin.  For larger donations the nonprofit recommends calling their office to schedule a pick up.