JC Art Club sponsoring blue-jean recycling

Nearly every university or college has a strong following of recyclers, ecology-conscious organizations and collection tubs for paper, aluminum pop cans and now, for unwanted blue jeans.

Jamestown College’s Art Club is participating in ecology-focused recycling as well. This is the first year, however, that blue jeans became part of its efforts.

One of its members, Elly Bauer, brought the challenge of collecting blue jeans to the Art Club. She works part time at the Vanity Shop, which is co-sponsoring the collection of jeans for the purpose of turning cotton fibers of denim fabrics, into non-toxic and eco-friendly insulation for homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf coast region of the USA.

It’s called the COTTON FROM BLUE TO GREEN denim drive that started in 2006, which at that time collected 14,566 denim pieces nationwide. In 2007 the group partnered with national retailers and organizations, including National Jean Company, Ernest Sewn, Gap, G by Guess, and Guess by Marciano and Warner Brothers Pictures, and now Vanity Shops have been added to that list.

Bauer said the Vanity Shop here is offering a 25 percent discount on a new pair of jeans when a customer brings in a donated pair. Vanity stores will donate all used jeans to be recycled into denim blue jeans bat insulation. The sale continues through Nov. 3.

The denim drive has been able to provide insulation to date for more than 180 homes being built in the Gulf Coast region. The goal is to collect 100,000 pairs of jeans which will be recycled into environmentally friendly Ultra Touch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation to aid communities in need.

Each of Vanity’s 200 stores is striving to collect 500 pairs of jeans, or enough to insulate one average sized home. Jeans can be mailed or dropped off to any Vanity store. For more information go to http://evanity.com/category/customer+service/store+locator.do.

For other sites that can help interested parties learn more about the recycling process, visit www. CottonFromBlueTo Green.org. According to Bauer, the UltraTouch company removes embellishments and shreds the fabric, and then treats it with a fire retardant similar to what is used in cellulose blown-in attic insulation. The fibers of the denim are coated so it resists fire.

The Fargo Vanity location is where jeans mailed should be sent. That address is eVanity LLC, 2410 Great Northern Drive, Fargo, ND 58102. Katie Wohlman is the marketing agent for Vanity Stores and can be reached at 701-237-3330, ext. 1619.

This is an amazing use of old clothing. It will not only help keep a family warm in winter and cooler in summer, but it also will help prevent additional mass from filling area landfills. Any method of not dumping usable items is valuable for saving landfill space. If clothing cannot be recycled that way, then the Salvation Army or any other thrift shop/consignment store can sell usable clothing. As winter settles in, it’s a great time to clear out those worn clothes and make room for upcoming holiday season’s new apparel.

If you have an item for this column, send to Sharon Cox, PO Box 1559, Jamestown, ND 58402-1559.

Tags: sharon cox, blue jean, art club, jamestown college, diversions, recycling, jc