Washington Lawmaker's Textile Waste Bill Fails to Advance

Proposed 'extended producer responsibility' program to reduce textile waste stalls in state legislature.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A bill sponsored by Washington state Rep. Kristine Reeves that aimed to establish an 'extended producer responsibility' program to reduce textile waste and hold companies accountable for the lifecycle of their products did not advance out of the House Appropriations Committee and will not move forward this year. The bill called for companies to fund expanded consumer access to collection sites and infrastructure for sorting, repairing and recycling garments and other textile goods, but faced opposition from business groups who argued the policy framework was too complicated.

Why it matters

With the rise of fast fashion, clothing sales have nearly doubled since 2000, leading to a growing textile waste problem. The proposed legislation sought to shift disposal costs from taxpayers and local governments to the companies that make and sell textile products, but faced pushback from industry groups who said the policy was premature.

The details

House Bill 1420 would have required textile companies with over $1 million in gross revenue to join a producer responsibility organization that would assess the state's current textile reuse, repair and recycling capabilities and establish performance standards. An amendment narrowed the bill to only mandate a study, but even that slimmed-down version failed to gain enough support to reach the House floor.

  • The bill was sponsored by Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way.
  • The bill did not advance out of the House Appropriations Committee by a Monday deadline and will not move ahead this year.
  • Last year, the Washington Legislature passed its first extended producer responsibility law, the Recycling Reform Act, which requires producers to fund packaging and paper recycling.

The players

Rep. Kristine Reeves

A Democratic state representative from Federal Way, Washington who sponsored the textile waste bill.

Association of Washington Business

A business group that opposed the bill, arguing the policy framework was too complicated.

Zero Waste Washington

A nonprofit advocacy group that supported the bill and was a driving force behind the packaging recycling legislation.

Washington Hospitality Association

An association representing hotels and restaurants that pushed back against including company uniforms as textiles in the bill.

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What they’re saying

“We've made it really easy to overconsume. We can do the 'and both' of reducing textile waste while boosting our repair economy.”

— Rep. Kristine Reeves (thereflector.com)

“Requiring a company to fund and participate in a PRO for uniforms … will add a cost and an administrative burden without much benefit.”

— Kerry Dolan, Government Affairs Manager, Washington Hospitality Association (thereflector.com)

What’s next

Rep. Kristine Reeves said she intends to reintroduce the bill next year.

The takeaway

This failed legislation highlights the challenges of implementing extended producer responsibility policies, particularly for complex product categories like textiles. While Washington has adopted such policies for packaging and paper, the textile industry's opposition shows the need for further stakeholder collaboration to develop an effective framework that balances environmental goals with business concerns.