A Blueprint for California’s Textile Recovery Under SB 707

Textile waste poses a growing environmental and social challenge, with the United States generating 17 million tons annually, of which 85% ends up in landfills or incinerated. This waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and pollution, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities near disposal sites. California's SB 707, the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, addresses these challenges through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), requiring producers to fund collection and recycling programs.

This project will develop a comprehensive implementation framework for SB 707 by creating three key deliverables for Retold Recycling: (1) a baseline assessment model quantifying California's textile waste generation and existing diversion streams by material type, (2) an environmental assessment comparing lifecycle consequences of different end-of-life pathways for major fiber types like cotton and polyester, and (3) a strategic action plan outlining operational considerations and compliance requirements for textile recovery under SB 707. These data-driven tools will support California's transition to circular textile management while providing a replicable blueprint for sustainable textile recovery implementation across other jurisdictions.