SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A California bill aims to tackle clothing waste — and if passed, it would be the first of its kind in the country.


What You Need To Know

  • Senate Bill 707 is also known as the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024

  • It would essentially tackle clothing waste by establishing a statewide clothing recycling program paid for by clothing companies

  • The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation estimates the average American throws away over 80 pounds of clothing every year

  • The bill is heading to the California Assembly. If passed, it would be implemented sometime in 2028

With every stitch, Robin Fator feels empowered. 

Her mom taught her to sew, and she used those skills to create her own business.

“I think the magic to me is that you can kind of take something that’s almost nothing or something that’s worthless, maybe even something that someone threw away, and if you know how to cut it just right and sew it just right, it becomes this really valuable piece that someone wants to wear and keep in their closet,” Fator said.

Now, she works at the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, a nonprofit that helps people grow along their environmental journey.

Executive Director Jessica Toth is monitoring California Senate Bill 707, the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024. The bill would essentially tackle clothing waste by establishing a statewide clothing recycling program paid for by clothing companies.

“The idea is that producers will take responsibility. So it will set up drop off places where material can actually be recycled,” Toth said. 

The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation estimates that the average American throws away over 80 pounds of clothing every year, which is an estimated 11 million tons of textile waste, most of which ends up in landfills.

Toth says they try to teach things like basic sewing skills and have clothing swaps to keep clothes out of the landfill. She believes passing environmental laws will make bigger steps forward.

“Legislation causes change. It brings attention to the issue, it brings investment to the issue,” she said.

California Assemblyman Tom Lackey originally voted against the bill, fearing some of the proposed fees and penalties against businesses would drive them out of state or into bankruptcy. 

“I do think this is something that we need to cooperatively work with the business community, with the manufacturing community and with textiles and work collaboratively together in finding ways to accomplish what needs to be done,” Lackey said. 

The bill has now undergone more amendments that have removed the opposition. Pass or fail, Lackey says it’s clear more effective recycling solutions are needed for a better future.

“Recycling has got to be the way of the future, but the way we do it has to be responsible and balanced,” he said.

Fator says the Solana Center will continue to help teach people practical solutions to everyday problems — even something as simple as hemming a shirt.

“Building your skills and doing repairs just makes it so you can participate in reusing things and not letting things go to waste,” she said.

The bill is heading to the California Assembly. If passed, it would be implemented in 2028.