The Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 (aka SB 707), a California law passed in late 2024, starts to take effect this year, with required producer registration by July 1. This textile circularity measure is the first-ever extended producer responsibility measure in the United States that addresses end-of-life services for textiles.

The state’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery – better known as CalRecycle – named the producer responsibility organization, the entity responsible for shaping and implementing a plan for the collection, transportation and management of covered apparel and textile products, on Feb. 27. CalRecycle selected Landbell USA, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is part of a global organization with EPR experience in Europe. Two apparel industry-led coalitions also applied.

  • Registration is the first step for compliance. Currently, only pre-registration is available.
  • Program fees and enforcement won’t begin immediately so that the PRO (Landbell) has time to conduct a needs assessment and work out program details.

It’s important to note that while this is still an extended producer responsibility regulation, this is a different law and organization from Circular Action Alliance, the PRO for packaging EPR.

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With the Responsible Textile Recovery Act, California aims to ensure that used textiles are collected and reused, repaired or recycled instead of going to a landfill. Like other EPR laws, the approach is to shift financial and operational accountability for these efforts away from taxpayers and municipalities and onto the companies that put apparel and other textile products on the market.

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Here are some frequently asked questions and answers for SB 707:

Who Is A Producer Under SB 707? 

The law applies to entities that sell apparel and textile products in California, and “producer” is defined in a hierarchical way, according to who has a business presence in the state: 

  1. The manufacturer. 
  2. The product importer or exclusive licensee.
  3. The distributor/wholesaler or product distributor/retailer.

Secondhand sellers and businesses with less than $1 million in annual global sales are exempt.

What Products Are Included Under SB 707? 

SB 707 covers a wide range of apparel and textile products. While clothing (including undergarments) is the primary target, the law also includes bags, fabric accessories (like scarves) and fabric footwear, as well as knitted and woven home furnishings and accessories (curtains, towels, etc.)

  • The full list of covered products will be supplied by the PRO at a future date. 

What Is The Timeline For SB 707? 

  • July 1, 2026: Producers must join the PRO. (Currently, only pre-registration is available.)
  • Mid-2026 to Mid-2028: The PRO will conduct a needs assessment and rulemaking for the program.
  • July 1, 2028: CalRecycle must adopt implementing regulations. 
  • July 1, 2030: Full program rollout and enforcement: All obligated producers must have an approved stewardship plan or face daily fines (up to $50,000), and CalRecycle will maintain a public list of compliant producers. Annual reporting begins.

The needs assessment, to be conducted over the next two years, will provide a comprehensive analysis of the textile recovery activities and infrastructure in California and identify any gaps. This information will help shape the program rules and implementation CalRecycle will adopt in 2028.

Best Practices For SB 707 Compliance 

Although full program implementation is still several years out, it’s critical that producers prepare now, says. Several complex EPR laws, including SB 707, that are currently in the early stages will converge and become active in 2030. This will require extensive data submission from obligated companies to CalRecycle.

“The brands that start now on data quality, SKU mapping and internal ownership will be in a much stronger position once PRO registration and reporting portals open,” says Kristen Kelley, environmental compliance coordinator at the Reverse Logistics Group, a recycling consultancy.

PPAI will continue to monitor this issue and provide updates. In the meantime, apparel and other textile producers should engage with Landbell USA to get registered by the July 1 deadline.