WM, Goodwill, and researchers in California and New York are working on sortation pilots, partnerships with apparel companies and research projects to gain insight into material flows.
Textile recycling projects across North America are moving forward as advocates look for ways to combat fast fashion and divert apparel and other items from disposal.
California recently enacted the first EPR for textiles program in the country, which recycling and waste groups say will create significant recycling, repair and reuse options for textiles by 2030. CalRecycle expects to start the regulatory process early next year.
The 2025 state legislative season could see more states rally behind similar EPR bills. Joanne Brasch, director of advocacy and outreach at the California Product Stewardship Council, says she’s keeping her eye on states like New York, which introduced a similar bill last year, as well as Oregon and Washington, though it’s too early to tell just how and when such bills will get introduced across the country.
California’s bill passed after two years, but other types of EPR programs in the state took much longer to adopt, she said. CPSC was a main sponsor of California’s textile EPR bill. “Advocates should start big, and just stick with it,” she said in an October interview. “Try from the beginning, and just keep trying.”
EPR is just one avenue for textile recycling advancements. Here’s a look at some recent partnerships working to establish textile recycling infrastructure and partnerships across North America:
Fashion-friendly Los Angeles moves forward with local textile recycling efforts
Los Angeles officials will continue a textile recycling pilot to divert textiles from disposal and upcycle the material into locally-made apparel.
The next phase of the project, run by LA Sanitation and Environment Department, the California Product Stewardship Council and other partners, aims to establish a centralized textile sorting hub for the city. LASAN also aims to partner with additional brands seeking fibers, yarn and fabrics made from textiles sourced in LA.
The program first started in 2020 as an effort to establish a local textile reuse market. LASAN recently completed phase 2 of the project, which diverted more than 1,000 pounds of cotton waste from disposal – mainly discarded fabric scraps from businesses, it said in a news release. LASAN is working with local apparel partners such as Outerknown to upcycle that material into clothing, bags and other items.
Though California’s textile EPR program is set to fully take effect by 2030, LASAN’s pilot aims to kickstart a local recycling program that could more rapidly build out infrastructure and business partnerships before that time. Los Angeles is already known as a fashion hub, and it is also gearing up to host major events such as FIFA World Cup soccer in 2026, the Super Bowl in 2027, and the summer Olympics in 2028, Brasch said.
“This pilot project was a proof of concept for brands to source textile waste from LA for upcycled and recycled-content products,” she said in a news release about the project.
Fabric waste from businesses makes up about 6% of waste sent to disposal in the city, said LASAN General Manager Barbara Romero in a statement.
Source: https://www.wastedive.com/