Blog | Landbell USA

AAFA Litigation Update [May 5th, 2026]:
On March 27, 2026, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) filed a legal petition against California Department of Resources Recovery and Recycling (CalRecycle) to challenge its selection of Landbell USA as the sole Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) for California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 (SB 707). The AAFA contends that Landbell USA fails to meet statutory requirements to be the PRO. (The hearing date for the AAFA-requested preliminary injunction is currently set to be heard on August 7, 2026.) Despite the pending litigation, producers are still subject to the CalRecycle order to register with the approved PRO by July 1, 2026, deadline. Failure to join the PRO by such date can result in fines of up to $10,000 per day, or up to $50,000 per day for intentional or knowing violations.

Landbell USA Selected by CalRecycle
[March 2nd, 2026]
Landbell USA is proud to announce its selection by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to serve as the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) for the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 (SB 707).

As the first-of-its-kind legislation in the United States, SB 707 establishes a formal framework for the collection, repair, reuse and recycling of apparel and textile products. By selecting Landbell USA, CalRecycle has designated a mission-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit to lead the state’s transition toward a circular textile economy.

Leading the Future of Textile Circularity
In its role as the PRO, Landbell USA will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end management and proper stewardship of covered products sold within California. This includes the development of a comprehensive Producer Responsibility Plan designed to reduce textile waste and increase the longevity of garments through the procurement of innovative consumer education programs, repair, reuse and recycling infrastructure.

“We are honored to take on this historic responsibility,” said Patrick Gibbs, Textile Lead at Landbell USA. “California is setting a global precedent for textile sustainability. Our goal is to provide a seamless, transparent, and highly effective program that requires producers to fund a product stewardship program for the covered materials they put into the California marketplace, while providing Californians with accessible options for textile recovery.”

Core Responsibilities and Implementation
Under the statutory requirements of the Public Resources Code, Landbell USA will immediately begin executing several critical mandates, including:

Statewide Needs Assessment: Conducting an initial evaluation of California’s SB 707 covered materials recovery infrastructure to identify gaps and available resources.
Producer Outreach: Covered Producers must sign up with the selected PRO by July 1, 2026. Maintaining an updated registry of covered producers ensures compliance across all participating entities. Please note, producer registration is now live and producers can register through Landbell USA’s secure partner, Circul8, HERE.
Governance and Transparency
Landbell USA’s operations are guided by a diverse governing board comprising producers of various sizes and covered material categories, ensuring that the unique needs of the apparel and textile industries are fully represented. To ensure public trust, Landbell USA will undergo annual financial audits and provide comprehensive progress reports to CalRecycle.

“This selection marks a turning point for the industry,” added John Hayes, President at Landbell USA. “By leveraging Landbell’s global expertise in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), we are prepared to turn the challenges of textile waste into a robust system of resource recovery.”

About Landbell USA
Landbell USA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing circular economy solutions and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs. As part of a global network of environmental compliance experts through Landbell Group, Landbell USA provides the technical expertise and operational infrastructure necessary to manage complex waste streams, ensuring that materials are kept in use and out of the environment.