(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)

Phoenix is asking companies to submit proposals for a curbside textile diversion program.

Phoenix is looking for companies to help keep clothing, shoes and other textiles out of the landfill.

Every year, textiles make up roughly 16,000 tons of material in the city’s garbage stream. That’s 35 million pounds of pillows and bedding, stuffed toys and blankets, blue jeans and sweaters.

While Phoenix continues to encourage residents to reuse and recycle, the city is creating a program described as a last resort to keep textiles out of the landfill.

Companies can submit plans to collect textiles curbside, and sort, bale and sell materials for resale and reuse. They would pay Phoenix based on the weight of textiles collected.

Proposals are due next month.

According to Phoenix’s Public Works Department, textiles are the second largest contaminant in the city’s recycling stream.

The biggest contaminant is labeled ‘non-distinct fines,’ which include material smaller than two inches in diameter like dirt, broken glass, bottle caps, small pieces of food and loose shredded paper.