North Cook News

Hannah Billingsley, a candidate for Illinois State House District 49, highlighted her visit to USAgain in a Facebook post dated October 13. She said, "Did you know that reusing just one pound of clothing saves about 2,400 gallons of water?"

"Pop quiz," said Billingsley, according to Facebook. "Did you know that reusing just one pound of clothing saves about 2,400 gallons of water? I recently toured USAgain, and their work is nothing short of amazing! They've helped save 14 billion pounds of CO2 and 2.2 trillion gallons of water through textile recycling."

USAgain is a Seattle-based company founded in 1999 with the mission to prioritize both people and the planet. The company exports clothes and shoes to countries facing economic challenges while creating green jobs in the United States. They focus on conserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gases. According to their "About" page, when their drop box, known as a TreeMachine, is full, they plant a tree.

Screenshot of Hannah Billingsley's Oct. 13 Facebook post | Vote Hannah For Illinois Facebook page

Since its inception, USAgain has expanded to over 130 team members across 15 states. In 2018 alone, the company planted 120,000 trees and has planted more than a million trees since it began operations.

The company accepts donations of clothing for children and adults, footwear, accessories, and linens but does not accept furniture or household appliances at their TreeMachine drop boxes or Drop Spot locations. Once these drop boxes are emptied, distribution centers create half-ton cubes of clothing. According to USAgain's website, these cubes are shipped from ten warehouses in the U.S. to various destinations worldwide for purposes such as wholesaling and recycling into insulation materials.

Billingsley further elaborated on her visit in her Facebook post: "Plus, they plant a tree for every 400 pounds of clothes collected! From supporting K-9 units with cots to providing shelters with blankets, USAgain is a true blessing to our community and the world."

Billingsley resides in West Chicago and is an entrepreneur with experience as a zoning commissioner and former teacher. She founded a niche clothing company in 2015 aimed at providing modest athletic wear for Muslim, Orthodox Jewish, and Christian women before selling it in August 2024. Since 2018, she has also developed a short-term rental business comprising nine units.