Federal Law & Regulations
The EPA tracks textile waste generation but has no federal mandates for textile recycling. In recent years, as fast fashion has accelerated landfill accumulation, some states are pushing for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bills for textiles, but none have passed federally. Currently, textile disposal is virtually unregulated, though the FTC heavily regulates how textiles are labeled (fiber content, origin) under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act.
National Take-Back Programs
Many national apparel brands have implemented take-back programs. H&M and Zara offer recycling bins in their retail stores for any brand of clothing in any condition, often giving a discount voucher in return. Madewell offers a denim recycling program. Retold Recycling provides a mail-in bag service for a fee, accepting even torn or stained textiles which are then shredded for insulation or rags. Otherwise, charities like Goodwill or dedicated textile drop-boxes (like Planet Aid) are omnipresent nationwide.