Since year 2000 FC&L has invested in an expanding clothes recycling
business in the USA. Clothes collections, operated under the name "U’SAgain", are collecting recycled clothes by means
of drop-boxes in 9 urban areas situated all over USA. FC&L has also added a trading company, which is selling clothes
to big customers in USA, Latin America, Europe and Africa.
U’SAgain contributes to a growing trend world-wide of
recycling used clothes, which has a great environmental impact. Discarded
clothes is a double waste - waste in the country, where it is land filled, and waste in the eyes of nations, where used clothing
represents a valuable resource. It is estimated, that from the 10 million
tons of clothing and household textiles sold annually in the USA, less than 15% is recycled. Compared to Europe, where the
recycling rate for clothes is around 50%, much can be done to increase the recovery rate.
U’SAgain’s drop-boxes are increasingly popular in
American cities. Situated close to shopping malls, supermarkets, and public buildings, they are easy to access. It is estimated
that 1 drop-box for 2,500 inhabitants in any metropolitan area in the USA is viable. In
2005 U’SAgain collected 6,700 tons of recyled clothes, 10% more than in 2004.