California recently became the first state to adopt an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles by adopting Senate Bill 707, the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 (the RTRA or Act). Specific requirements will become effective in 2026. EPR is a regulatory approach that shifts the burden of recycling and reuse of products away from local governments and consumers to manufacturers for the entire lifecycle of a product. The EPR approach aims to reduce landfill waste, promote recycling and reuse, and encourage innovation in product design and disposal. While this policy concept is not new—EPR programs for products such as electronics, mattresses, carpeting, and packaging are already active in the U.S. and EU—no such scheme for textiles currently exists in either jurisdiction. That is now changing. Read more here.
