By Rebecca Stone

California producers of used clothing and household textiles face fines of up to $10,000 per day for failing to register with the state's designated Producer Responsibility Organization, according to American Circular Textiles' second implementation briefing.

The policy coalition, AMCIRC, updated its free public SB 707 tracker. The tracker now lists the $10,000 daily penalty, a $1,000 annual registration fee and a Nov. 12 workshop that will shape program details. California's 2024 law places producers in charge of a statewide recovery program for used clothing and household textiles.

"What happens in California sets the template for everyone else," Rachel Kibbe, founder and CEO of American Circular Textiles, said in a statement. AMCIRC's hub offers standardized implementation information in one place, she added, so the textile value chain arrives at CalRecycle's informal workshops informed.

What does the November workshop cover?

CalRecycle will hold a workshop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time on Nov. 12 in Sacramento and online. The agenda addresses the producer responsibility plan, contingency planning, plan termination, revocation of a PRO's status and annual reports.

Participants can ask questions and submit comments in person or through Zoom. A separate webcast allows observation only. The session follows workshops held Aug. 13 and Sept. 29 covering definitions, online marketplaces, collection access, reuse and repair.

AMCIRC expects CalRecycle to continue informal workshops through spring 2027. Formal rulemaking will begin around mid-2027. Under that schedule, the regulations cannot take effect before July 1, 2028, giving brands and recyclers a long runway to prepare compliance documentation, supply chain disclosures and program budgets.

How much does PRO registration cost?

CalRecycle required covered producers to join Landbell USA by July 1. The deadline followed Landbell's Feb. 27 approval as the designated PRO. Registration remains open, AMCIRC reported.

The $1,000 fee covers the cycle running July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Landbell said the fee funds the needs assessment and program development. Companies registering for the 2026-27 cycle do not have to submit product supply or volume figures. Unregistered covered producers face the $10,000 daily penalty.

What will the needs assessment require?

Landbell must file a needs assessment with CalRecycle by March 1, 2027. The document will map California's existing textile collection, hauling, reuse, repair, recycling and disposal capacity. It will also identify infrastructure gaps and investment needs.

Landbell said it will outsource the work to a third-party contractor. The contractor had not been announced as of Oct. 14. The PRO's board includes representatives from Target, Gap, Nike, Reformation and Columbia Sportswear, alongside reuse, recycling and supply-chain organizations.

What is the status of AAFA's lawsuit?

The American Apparel & Footwear Association sued CalRecycle in March. AAFA alleged that Landbell USA did not meet SB 707's requirement that producers form the PRO. A court rejected AAFA's preliminary injunction request on Sept. 17, allowing implementation work to continue. The court confirmed on Oct. 12 that a hearing on the underlying challenge remains scheduled for March 12, 2027.

AAFA directed inquiries to a Sept. 18 statement. President and CEO Steve Lamar said the association would advocate for "a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) that complies with the law and reflects the full breadth of the industry it serves." AAFA's objections center on producer governance, board representation, nonprofit status and financial oversight.

Where can brands find the briefing?

The second briefing is available through AMCIRC's SB 707 hub. The hub also hosts the implementation tracker and the coalition's earlier briefing. The tracker debuted in March to help companies follow the rollout.

With formal rulemaking not expected before mid-2027 and the regulations unable to take effect before July 1, 2028, brands and recyclers have a defined runway to align collection, sorting and reporting capacity with the law's eventual demands.