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Each year, 85% of textiles—approximately 92 million tons—end up discarded, primarily ending up in landfills or incinerators (1). In 2018 alone, Americans discarded 17 million tons of textiles, accounting for 5.83% of all municipal solid waste, marking an 80% increase since 2000, significantly surpassing the general waste growth rate of 20% (2). The average American disposed of 103.5 pounds of textiles in 2018, a 55% increase per capita from 2000, largely driven by fast fashion trends encouraging frequent purchases and shorter product lifespans (3).
With the global population projected to exceed 8.5 billion by 2030 (4), textile waste is expected to rise dramatically—potentially increasing by 60% from 2015 levels and reaching 148 million tons annually (5).
New York Assembly Bill A6193 proposes a robust EPR framework requiring textile producers—including apparel and home goods—to submit comprehensive recycling and collection plans by December 31, 2026. Non-compliant producers will be barred from selling their products within the state.
Producers must offer accessible, free collection points for consumers and demonstrate clear tracking and responsible textile management. Products sold in New York must be labeled with the producer's contact information, and approved recycling plans will be publicly available. Brands may collaborate through a collective Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) but are not required to do so.
Penalties for non-compliance include fines of up to $500 per violation and similar daily penalties for ongoing non-compliance. The bill is currently with the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee and awaits further action.
New York's legislation could significantly expand current textile recycling initiatives, such as refashionNYC. The program, despite diverting over 12,200 tons of textiles since 2011, addresses only a fraction of the 200,000 tons discarded annually in the city (14), thus highlighting the need for broader legislative support.
Washington’s HB1420 – currently under review by the House Appropriations Committee – also establishes an EPR program. The legislation requires textile producers operating in the state to join a Department of Ecology-approved PRO or independently register by January 1, 2027, with full program implementation by January 1, 2032.
PRO members must manage comprehensive recycling programs, create statewide collection networks, and provide educational outreach. Collected textiles must be prioritized for reuse and recycling. Producers must annually report product details, chemicals used, and sustainability initiatives. Companies earning over $100 million annually must also disclose supplier working conditions and environmental impacts.
Penalties for non-compliance are significant, with fines up to $10,000 per violation per day. Additional enforcement measures include cost recovery by the Department of Ecology and suspension of producer registrations (15).
France’s successful textile EPR program, initiated in 2007, demonstrates potential benefits for the U.S. market. France increased textile collection from 100,000 tons in 2009 to 244,448 tons in 2021, with a target of 300,000 tons annually (16). The program also supported local recycling and innovation projects in addition to creating 1,400 full-time sorting jobs by 2017, half of which were allocated to workers facing employment challenges (17).
Similarly, implementing well-structured EPR programs in the U.S. could significantly boost economic growth. New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation estimates these programs could generate over 1,000 new jobs and nearly $130 million annually from recycled textiles.
