Mattias Wallander

Work boots for the garden, sneakers for running, loafers for the office, flip flops for the beach... and so on. America loves shoes! According to the National Shoe Retailers Association, Americans spend a whopping $20 billion annually on footwear, with the average person owning 10 pairs of shoes....

As the CEO of a textile recycling company, I've been talking about the importance of textile reuse and recycling for the last 12 years. Every day my team and I work to spread the word about why it's important to keep clothing in the use stream.

While...

Banning textiles from landfills means that all clothing, footwear, linens, carpets, old drapes, towels, coats and more would be prohibited from landfills across the country. Seems extreme, right? Well, it's not, and here's why.

First, let's look at the scope of the problem. According to the EPA, Americans...

With the first month of the year coming to a close, the holidays are now a distant memory and many of us have already left our New Year's resolutions in the dust. That's why I waited until now to post my column on resolutions -- when we've all had a...

Time really flies! I've already been writing this column for an entire year, and it has been such a great outlet for me. Through these articles, I've recognized the work of environment pioneers I admire, offered advice to fellow recyclers and shed light on planet and people friendly topics.
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In August the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution that expresses support for "improvement in the collection, processing and use of recyclable materials throughout the United States." Although this non-binding resolution merely expresses support for recycling, the resolution is still a positive step forward in recognizing the importance...

America Recycles Day, founded in 1997, is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling in the United States. It serves as a great reminder to all Americans that we are responsible for doing our part for the planet. America is appropriately considered a nation...

The average person is becoming ever more aware of environmental issues. From the increased media coverage and consequent acceptance of climate change to the expanding array of natural, organic and toxin-free products available in stores today.

As CEO of the clothing recycling and reuse company USAgain, I'm...

I've been a runner most of my life. I started running when I was in my teens and was immediately addicted. I've always found that running has been a great way to clear my head -- I've come up with some of my best ideas while jogging along city streets,...

Fashions change every season and when we buy new things we have to get rid of the old, outgrown and out of style. Americans consume 65 pounds of new clothes per person each year and according to the EPA, American households discard a total of 25.4 billion pounds...

It's summer again. Time to pack away all those heavy wool sweaters and pull out your t-shirts. We all have our favorites. We all probably have a lot of them, in fact; piled in the closet, jammed in the bottom of drawers, emblazoned with logos from sporting events and fundraisers,...

Just last month, I asked you to take the Not One Sock Pledge, a pledge to recycle, reuse, donate, swap and otherwise repurpose all your unwanted clothes and textiles, thereby keeping them out of the trash and out of landfills.

In light of that challenge I want...

This April 22, Earth Day will once again provide us all an excellent opportunity to reflect on our consumption habits. It's a day when some of us may decide to start using earth friendly cleaning or beauty products, adopt reusable bags for our shopping trips, or drive less. But most...

Art can be a vehicle for all kinds of messages, social and political, blatant and subtle, personal and public. A new exhibition at Chicago's Columbia College is using art to send a message to the fashion industry and consumers that it's time to wake up and really examine the impact...

Most of us who live amongst the hustle and bustle of the big city probably aren't aware of the fact that approximately 21% of Americans live in rural areas. This huge subset of the American population lacks something that most city-dwellers take for granted: easy access to recycling programs.

Lose weight. Get a new job. Take more vacation. Spend time with the kids. It's been almost three weeks. How are those resolutions going? If your 2011 goal was to declutter your closet, hope it's still going strong. And not just because it will free up some extra space in...

When we think of recycling, we think of cans, bottles and newspapers. We understand the importance of separating these materials from the regular trash, even use special colored waste bins to help us make sure we do it right. We accept -- and applaud -- the companies that pick up...

The U.S. Census estimates there will be 10 billion people on our planet by 2050 as countries like India and China explode into the middle class, a growth rate that imposes increasing strains on the world's landfills.

But when it comes to textile waste, these countries actually aren't the...

When it comes to recycling programs, U.S. municipalities have come a long way over the last thirty years. City leaders have spearheaded major programs to implement systems for paper, plastic and aluminum, and local citizens are participating in record numbers.

Innovative companies like RecycleBank, which partner with municipalities and haulers...

The economy has taken a hit, but that doesn't seem to have stopped Americans from buying new clothes in high volume. In fact, the culture of consumption is still going strong, with Americans hungrier than ever for textiles.

Which might be okay if we were seeing a proportionate rise...