California SB 707: Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024
Signed into law in September 2024, California Senate Bill 707 (SB 707) established the nation's first mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for apparel, footwear, and household textiles. Enforced by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), SB 707 mandates that producers establish, fund, and maintain a statewide infrastructure for collecting, repairing, sorting, and recycling post-consumer textile products.
Statutory Implementation Timeline
CalRecycle officially selected Landbell USA as the sole approved Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to administer the state textile program.
Mandatory Registration Deadline: All covered producers placing apparel or textiles onto the California market must register with Landbell USA.
CalRecycle adopts formal implementing regulations and the PRO submits its comprehensive statewide stewardship collection plan.
Full commercial operational launch of statewide collection, repair, and circular recycling networks.
Legal Hierarchy: Who Is Considered a "Producer"?
Under Cal. Pub. Res. Code §§ 42984–42984.27, compliance obligations follow a strict statutory hierarchy to determine which business entity bears primary liability:
- Tier 1 — Brand Owner / Manufacturer: The person or entity who manufactures the covered product under their own brand or trademark and sells or offers it for sale in California.
- Tier 2 — Exclusive Licensee: If the brand owner is outside the United States, the exclusive licensee or owner of the trademark rights within California is responsible.
- Tier 3 — Importer of Record: If neither the brand owner nor exclusive licensee resides in California, the entity importing the product into California assumes legal producer status.
- Tier 4 — Retailer / Marketplace: If no in-state brand owner, licensee, or importer exists, the distributor, wholesaler, or online marketplace offering the item for sale in California becomes the obligated producer.
Statutory Exemptions & Covered Products
Covered Apparel & Textiles: Clothing, footwear, handbags, backpacks, scarves, activewear, bedding, towels, curtains, tablecloths, and fabric window coverings.
Exempt Entities & Items:
- Revenue De Minimis: Producers with less than $1,000,000 in annual aggregate global turnover (including parent and affiliate entities) are exempt.
- Secondhand Retailers: Businesses exclusively engaged in reselling used items.
- Excluded Products: Medical/PPE gear, military uniforms, mattresses, and e-waste covered under existing California stewardship programs.
Enforcement & Civil Fines for Non-Compliance
CalRecycle maintains a public list of compliant and non-compliant producers. Unregistered producers face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for standard violations and up to $50,000 per day for knowing or intentional violations. Additionally, retailers and online platforms are legally prohibited from selling products originating from non-compliant producers.
Official Registration Portal
Obligated fashion brands and importers must enroll directly with the state PRO:
- Landbell USA Official SB 707 Registration Portal — Complete producer registration and obtain a unique Producer ID.
Related Apparel Search Directories
Regulatory & Compliance Notice: The information provided in this guide is for general educational and directory purposes only. State, federal, and international laws—including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) statutes, California SB 707 provisions, and EU directives—are subject to frequent legislative amendments, regulatory updates, and legal interpretations. Apparel Search Company does not guarantee that all information on this page reflects the most current legal standards. Readers, importers, and producers are strongly advised to consult official government sources (such as CalRecycle or official EU regulatory portals) and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance guidance.
Apparel Search will update this guide as CalRecycle releases new regulations and fee schedules. If your legal firm or compliance consultancy assists apparel brands with SB 707 filings, please contact us to join our directory.
