CalRecycle receives 3 textiles EPR applications

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has received proposals from three organizations willing to become the state's producer responsibility organization (PRO) to oversee an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system for discarded clothing, linens and handbags.

The PRO will be created as part of the state’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act (SB 707), which was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsome in September 2024.

Under SB 707, CalRecycle is required to review submitted applications and approve one PRO by March 1 for the purposes of carrying out the producer requirements of the statute.

On its website, CalRecycle has posted applications from three organizations: the Circular Textile Alliance, based in Sacramento, California; Landbell USA, based in New York; and the Textile Renewal Alliance, also based in Sacramento.

Landbell USA is part of the Landbell Group and operates one of the first textile PROs in the world through its European Recycling Platform (ERP) Netherlands entity.

In its PRO, Landbell says its program design prioritizes reuse and repair, with a goal to prepare a significant share of collected covered materials for reuse and repair, with retailer and community-based organizations making repair services visible and accessible.

The Textile Renewal Alliance's plan calls for launching an inclusive, affordable, and robust collection network with convenient access for consumers and strong collaboration with the repair, reuse and recycling economy.

The alliance’s list of founding members includes several sizable retailers, including Amazon, Nike, Target and Walmart. The PRO spells out involvement by existing reuse organizations Goodwill and the Salvation Army and cooperation with WM and members of the Virginia-based Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART).

The Circular Textile Alliance was founded by experienced fashion and textile industry professionals with first-hand knowledge of textile production, supply chain operations and circular systems, according to the group. Its PRO portrays its focus on product traceability and transparency around social and environmental impact, including involvement with Global Organic Textiles Standards and Fair Trade USA certification.

According to CalRecycle, since it has received more than one application, it is required to determine which proposed PRO can most effectively implement the law, and the agency saying it will approve one of the PROs by March 1.