Global Partners has partnered with Helpsy to address the growing issue of textile waste and its impact on landfills. Together, they are offering convenient and responsible textile collection options across Massachusetts and beyond.
The collaboration, supported by Global’s sustainability initiative, Global for Good, has placed collection bins at 32 Global-owned convenience markets and fueling stations, promoting recycling and environmental stewardship within local communities.
“More than 85% of clothing is discarded, contributing to nearly 10% of U.S. landfill waste while releasing harmful chemicals into the environment,” said Jonathan Hackett, senior director of environmental products at Global Partners. “Our partnership with Helpsy is a critical step in diverting textiles from landfills, reducing their environmental impact and fostering sustainable practices.”
Helpsy’s efforts address a staggering issue: the average American discards more than 100 pounds of clothing, shoes and accessories annually, contributing to more than 30 billion pounds of waste and 10% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. While recycling programs have targeted materials like plastic, glass and paper, textiles remain largely neglected. Helpsy, however, accepts a wider variety of items than most collection points, including torn sheets, damaged blankets, worn shoes and other accessories.
“Helpsy extends the useful life of clothing by connecting clothes to the best end use: reuse or recycling,” said Lisa Sciannella, Helpsy’s Chief of Staff. “A tremendous number of resources go into the production of new clothing, so the best thing we can do for clothes is use them as clothing. Clothes that are no longer usable as clothing can be used for other purposes such as wiper rags, stuffing or insulation.”
Launched as a pilot in April 2024, this initiative began with 12 Helpsy collection sites at Global-owned convenience markets and fueling stations across Massachusetts. By February 2025, the program had already collected approximately 137,000 pounds of textiles, preventing the release of 1,195,227.25 kg of CO2e emissions — equivalent to taking roughly 250 homes off the grid for an entire year, according to the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.
Once collected, Helpsy sorts the textiles to determine which items can be resold, repaired or repurposed into products like cleaning rags. With the expansion of this program, Global Partners will add additional collection bins at its properties across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, further enhancing the accessibility of textile recycling for local communities.
Global Partners is a Fortune 500 company and industry-leading integrated owner, supplier and operator of liquid energy terminals, fueling locations and guest-focused retail experiences. Global operates or maintains dedicated storage at 54 liquid energy terminals — with connectivity to strategic rail, pipeline and marine assets — spanning from Maine to Florida and into the U.S. Gulf States.
Through this extensive network, the company distributes gasoline, distillates, residual oil and renewable fuels to wholesalers, retailers and commercial customers. In addition, Global owns, operates and/or supplies approximately 1,700 retail locations across the Northeast states, the Mid-Atlantic and Texas.
