State presents plan to implement SB 707, nation—s first textile producer-responsibility program

CalRecycle officials told the subcommittee that SB 707 (the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024) establishes the nation's first extended producer responsibility program for textiles. The law requires apparel and textile producers to develop and fund recycling, repair and disposal systems and to create or join a producer responsibility organization.

CalRecycle said the department's 2025–26 budget change proposal requests 27 permanent positions phased over two fiscal years (18 positions in 2025–26 and nine in 2027–28) and ongoing costs of about $4,552,000 to support implementation. The department also requested loan authority to cover implementation costs until the approved producer responsibility organization reimburses CalRecycle; CalRecycle proposed splitting the loan between the Beverage Container Recycling Fund and the Electronic Waste Recovery Recycling Account.

CalRecycle staff said the statute requires PRO applications by January 1, 2026; department approval of a PRO by March 1, 2026; producers to join the PRO by July 1, 2026; and an initial statewide needs assessment by March 1, 2027. CalRecycle said it will begin outreach and launch rulemaking to meet those statutory deadlines and that the new staff and interim funding would be used to administer the program and complete the required rulemaking and approvals.

No subcommittee votes were taken. Committee members expressed interest in agency readiness and suggested close monitoring of the department's staff and funding requests as the program moves toward producer plan filings in 2026.