Textile Stewardship
California’s groundbreaking Responsible Textile Recovery Act holds the apparel and textile industry responsible for making sure their products get collected, repaired, reused, and recycled.
California is leading the nation to cut waste and climate pollution from textiles and apparel.
- 8% of global climate pollution is linked to fashion from sourcing to disposal.
- 1 garbage truck worth of textiles is landfilled or burned every second.
- Californians throw away 1.2 million tons of textiles a year (3% of what we landfill).
- Most clothes are made from plastic-based materials like polyester.
85% of Our Old Clothes
Wind Up in Landfills
Textiles and apparel include:
- Clothing/Accessories
- Curtains
- Fabric window coverings
- Knitted and woven accessories
- Towels
- Tapestries
- Bedding
- Tablecloths
- Napkins
- Blankets
- Linens and
- Pillows.
For more information, visit PRC sections 42984.3 (a), (i), and (ae).
In California apparel and textile industries can model new ways to:
- Cut waste and pollution,
- Set up convenient collection, and
- Increase reuse, repair, and recycling.
Innovative requirements of the Responsible Textile Recovery Act:
- Ensure collected textiles are reused, repaired, or recycled.
- Provide incentives and grants to support the reuse, repair, and recycling infrastructure.
- Minimize environmental and public health impacts in the entire supply chain.
Timeline
January 2026
Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) applications are due to CalRecycle by January 1, 2026.
March 2026
CalRecycle will approve a PRO.
July 2026
Producers must join the PRO by July 1, 2026.
March 2027
The PRO will complete an initial needs assessment.
July 2028
CalRecycle will adopt regulations, taking effect no earlier than July 1, 2028.
Resources
For more information, contact textiles@calrecycle.ca.gov.