Millions of tons of clothing and textiles are discarded in the United States every year. A growing share of consumers and businesses want to see those materials collected, sorted, and put back into use rather than sent to landfills.
The demand side is moving. The challenge is on the supply side: building and scaling the collection and processing infrastructure to handle the volume.
The companies doing this work tend to be established, operationally intensive businesses. They run collection networks, sorting facilities, and distribution operations across multiple end markets, from thrift retail to fiber reclamation to industrial wiping cloth. It is complex, hands-on work that takes decades to build well.
Mid-West Textile has been doing it since 1982. Headquartered in El Paso, Texas, the company is one of the largest textile recyclers in the country and also operates Thrift Town retail stores in Texas and New Mexico. Greybull has acquired Mid-West Textile and plans to provide capital and operational support as the business continues to grow, including expanding its retail presence.
Mid-West Textile joins RTCM and ClothesBin as part of Greybull’s continued investment in this sector. As Mason Myers noted in the full announcement, “We see a significant opportunity to continue to partner with established businesses that provide the infrastructure and expertise needed to collect, process, and give textiles a second life.”