California is taking steps to address the growing problem of textile waste in landfills with the passage of Senate Bill 707, signed into law at the end of 2024. The Responsible Textile Recovery Act requires manufacturers to develop plans for managing discarded textiles, a practice already embraced by resale shops like Thrifty Threads in Encinitas.
“It’s super helpful to our environment for future generations as well as ours. It makes fashion fun and not just click and buy,” said Maddie Hoffman, an employee at Thrifty Threads. The bill mandates that certain apparel and textile producers establish a Producer Responsibility Organization to fund reuse, repair and recycling programs in California. This initiative aims to combat the estimated 1.2 million tons of unused textiles dumped in California landfills in 2021.
Jessica Toth, Executive Director at the Solana Center, explained the environmental impact: “When it goes in the landfill, it off-gases. Any organic material creates methane, contributing to climate change.” Toth noted that organic materials in landfills are the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with clothing waste growing at the fastest rate. By 2026, select clothing and textile producers must have collection stations in place to repurpose their products. The bill is set to take full effect in 2028.