A HISTORIC new law will allow Americans to return their unwanted clothes for free.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation for the nation’s first mandatory take-back program on Saturday.
Customers will be able to drop off their unwanted clothing at stores by 2030 thanks to a new bill (stock image)[/caption]
The Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 aims to reduce textile waste (stock image)[/caption]
The bill, called SB 707 or the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, was created in hopes of reducing getting rid of unwanted clothing that ends up creating textile waste in landfills.
The new law also aims to support sustainably upcycling and recycling clothing in hopes of confronting the effects of wasteful fashion on the environment.
Senator Josh Newman, who wrote the bill, shared a statement about his goal for the act.
“SB 707 isn’t just about recycling; it’s about transforming the way we think about textile waste,” Newman said.
“The framework created by SB 707 will create new opportunities for every Californian to participate in a more sustainable future.”
The new law means that companies that make clothes or any textile products have until 2026 to create ways to recycle unwanted clothing.
Companies will be required to do this by setting up collection sites at thrift stores, creating mail-back methods, or finding other solutions to reuse or recycle their products across the state.
The bill gives the producers of clothes, towels, bedding, and upholstery until 2030 to have their programs developed and ready to begin.
“The framework created by SB 707 will create new opportunities for every Californian to participate in a more sustainable future,” Senator Newman said.
“By 2030, convenient drop-off locations for used textiles across the state will provide everyone with a free and simple way to be part of the solution.
“California is again at the forefront of innovation, proving we can lead the way in creating a circular and sustainable textile economy that benefits everyone.”
The fashion industry is known for contributing to pollution and environmental decay, which has only increased with the rise of fast fashion.
Fast fashion is marketing and selling low-quality items for low costs to keep up with trends – and it often leads to clothes getting thrown away.
Cal Recycle, the state’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, reported that about 1.2 million tons of textiles were tossed in 2021, which cost taxpayers over $70 million.
What is the bill?
Senate Bill 707 (SB 707), the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, aims to help the environment by preventing textile waste.
The new bill, signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom, established the nation’s first Extended Producer Responsibility tectyle recycling program.
The bill aims to combat waste and promote sustainability by requiring companies that sell apparel and other textile products to create ways for customers to recycle or reuse their clothes.
The act says that by 2026, all companies that sell apparel, towels, bedding, or other textile products should have a plan in place for people to be able to safely dispose of or repair their clothes.
This could include collection sites, mail-back programs, or other methods of returning or recycling unwanted clothes by 2030.
The bill’s author, Senator Josh Newman, said the legislation “creates a framework for producers and other participants in the value chain to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products and textiles, including repair, recycling, and reuse of garments and fibers.”
“By 2030, convenient drop-off locations for used textiles across the state will provide everyone with a free and simple way to be part of the solution,” Newman said.
Companies that don’t follow the new act will face penalties, the bill said.
Only 15% of textiles are currently recycled even though most can be reused, according to Cal Recycle.
Newman’s bill had over 150 endorsements from eco-friendly organizations and retailers including Ikea, Goodwill, and Everlane.
Dr. Joanne Brasch, a lecturer at UC Davis on textile sustainability who co-sponsored the legislation, said in Newman’s press release that the new bill provides a “more equitable solution to a systematic problem.”
“The program will incentivize producers to adopt less wasteful production and greener designs,” Brasch said.
More details about how the system will work remain unknown.
The California companies have until 2026 to create their systems, meaning it’ll likely become operational around 2028, according to The Guardian.
The law says that companies that don’t follow the new act will face penalties.
This isn’t the first eco-friendly bill that Governor Newsom has signed lately after he passed a law banning plastic bags from grocery stores.
