Washington, D.C., U.S.: As states across the U.S. look to California's lead in tackling the growing clothing overconsumption crisis through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, USAgain, a leading textile recovery organization, met with U.S. policymakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for textile reuse over recycling. The visit, organized by American Circular Textiles (ACT), saw USAgain CEO Mattias Wallander champion policies that support a circular economy built on reuse, effective EPR regulations, and the vital role of global trade.
The visit comes at a critical time as more states plan to follow California in implementing EPR programs for textiles in a bid to tackle America’s clothing overconsumption crisis. With the average American discarding a staggering 81 pounds of clothing annually, the need for sustainable and convenient solutions has never been more urgent. USAgain has already diverted 1 billion pounds of textiles from landfills through its collection and reuse model, saving an estimated 15 billion pounds of CO2 and 2.4 trillion gallons of water to date.
Mattias Wallander, USAgain CEO said: “Our planet can’t sustain the current 'throw-away' culture when it comes to clothing. Reusing textiles reduces the need for new fiber production saving water, energy, dyes and chemicals. By increasing opportunities for consumers to donate unwanted clothing through our donation bin network, we are actively combating climate change at the local, national and global levels.
However, we need a more coherent approach to the implementation of EPR between states and municipalities; one that incentivises the provision of clothing collection points and supports greater diversion of valuable resources for reuse. We are committed to partnering with policymakers and stakeholders to build a more sustainable and equitable future for people and the planet through securing a circular economy for textiles.”
USAgain’s priorities include:
- Prioritize Reuse in National Efforts to Build a Circular Economy: USAgain called for a national textile recycling strategy that adheres to the waste management hierarchy, placing reuse above recycling due to its environmental benefits. Reuse has a carbon footprint 70 times lower than producing new clothing. Scaling up the reuse sector also creates ‘green jobs’ within local communities.
- Support Effective Local EPR Regulations: With several states, including California, exploring EPR programs for textiles, USAgain stressed the need for greater alignment between state and municipal actors in the implementation of these programs. USAgain advocated for local regulations that incentivize municipalities to provide more convenient solutions for textile recovery. Furthermore, USAgain emphasized that EPR programs must maintain a level playing field for all textile recovery entities to foster competition, drive innovation, and lower the overall cost of recycling and recovery.
- Global Trade: Essential for a Circular Economy: USAgain expressed concern about the negative impact of potential tariff proposals on international trade, which plays a crucial role in sustaining the circular economy by enabling. Tariffs on secondhand goods would disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities, limiting access to affordable clothing and potentially result in job losses both domestically and abroad. Transparent trade policies should support the free flow of secondhand goods and facilitate a more sustainable global economy.
About USAgain: USAgain is a leading clothes collection company providing people with convenient and safe solutions to increase clothing reuse in their local communities by providing clothing donation bins or Tree machines. Through its collection and reuse model USAgain is keeping unwanted clothes out of landfill for longer and creating employment opportunities in the green economy, both domestically and abroad. USAgain also partners with schools and businesses to build greater awareness of the challenges associated with overconsumption and are empowering the next generation of climate stewards.
