Summary
Details
- California
California's SB 707 applies to producers (manufacturers, brand owners, and, in some cases, importers, distributors, retailers, or wholesalers) that sell covered apparel or textile products in California. If no in-state manufacturer or brand owner exists, responsibility shifts down the supply chain according to the hierarchy set out in the Act.
Deep dive
📩 Stay ahead of climate regulation and reporting shifts
Regulatory updates, reporting standards, and new climate software — distilled into one concise weekly brief for decision-makers.
Thanks for signing up. Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription.
Practical updates. Once per week.
Background
Textile waste is one of California's fastest-growing waste streams, with millions of tonnes of clothing, footwear, household textiles, and other fabric products discarded each year. Although many of these products can be reused or recycled, most are still landfilled because collection and recovery infrastructure has remained fragmented and underfunded.
Signed into law in September 2024, SB 707 creates a statewide stewardship program requiring producers of covered apparel and textile products to finance and manage their products' end-of-life recovery. The legislation follows the extended producer responsibility (EPR) model already used for products such as electronics, batteries, paint, and packaging, but is the first in the United States to apply specifically to textiles.
Beyond recycling, the Act establishes a hierarchy that prioritises repair, reuse, refurbishment, and recycling, with disposal regarded as the least desirable outcome. The law also seeks to stimulate investment in California's textile recovery infrastructure, improve product design, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts associated with textile waste, and support the development of a more circular textile economy.
Reporting and Compliance Requirements
Although many operational responsibilities are carried out by the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), affected producers still have several important compliance obligations under SB 707. Producers of covered apparel and textile products must:
Join the approved Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO): Producers may not sell covered products in California outside an approved stewardship programme. Producers that become newly subject to the Act after 1 January 2030 must join the PRO within 90 days.
Register with the PRO and provide required producer information: Producers must comply with the PRO's registration procedures and supply information needed to administer the programme, including brand and contact information and other data required under the approved stewardship plan.
Provide product and sales data: Producers are expected to provide information to the PRO on the covered textile products they place on the California market.
Maintain compliance records: Producers must retain relevant records for at least five years and, upon request, provide CalRecycle with records or other information needed to verify compliance.
Cooperate with audits and inspections. CalRecycle may audit individual producers or the PRO, request access to facilities and operations, and require supporting documentation within specified timeframes to verify compliance with the Act.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
CalRecycle is responsible for enforcing the Responsible Textile Recovery Act. The Department may impose administrative civil penalties of:
Up to US$10,000 per day for violations of the Act.
Up to US$50,000 per day where a violation is found to be intentional or knowing.
In addition to financial penalties, CalRecycle may:
remove non-compliant producers from its published list of compliant producers;
require corrective actions or resubmission of non-compliant reports;
seek judicial enforcement to recover unpaid penalties or enforce other remedies provided under the Act.
Failure to provide required records or cooperate with compliance inspections may also result in enforcement action.
Current Status and Outlook
SB 707 is currently in the implementation phase. In February 2026, CalRecycle approved Landbell USA as California's Producer Responsibility Organization, and producers of covered textile products were required to join the organisation by 1 July 2026. CalRecycle is now developing implementing regulations through stakeholder consultations, with formal regulations expected to take effect no earlier than July 2028.
The Responsible Textile Recovery Act represents a significant milestone in U.S. circular economy policy. By requiring producers to finance statewide systems for collection, repair, reuse, and recycling, California is moving responsibility for textile waste upstream to the companies placing products on the market. Given California's influence on environmental policy, the Act is likely to serve as a model for future textile EPR legislation in other U.S. states.
Resources
Cut through the green tape
We don't push agendas. At Net Zero Compare, we cut through the hype and fear to deliver the straightforward facts you need for making informed decisions on green products and services. Whether motivated by compliance, customer demands, or a real passion for the environment, you’re welcome here. We provide reliable information. Why you seek it is not our concern.