The Sanitation Department and the Mayor's Office announced in Crown Heights, Brooklyn on Tuesday a partnership with Housing Works for a new initiative to recycle old clothes, called refashionNYC.

Apartment buildings can apply for a free bin to collect used clothing, making it easier for residents to donate.

"They have the ability to recycle right there in the building. They don't have to start looking through the neighborhood or carrying it someplace. It's right there. It's convenient and accessible," said Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty.

"The city estimates there's 20,000 tons of clothing that's thrown out by New York City residences, so if we even get a part of that, it would be a huge expansion," said Housing Works Senior Vice President Matthew Bernardo.

All clothing collected will be used to fund Housing Works services for homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS.

For more information about the program, visit nyc.gov/refashionnyc.