The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released its first-ever report addressing the environmental and systemic challenges [1] posed by the growing surplus of discarded textiles. This landmark report marks the first federal acknowledgment of textile waste as a significant concern in the United States.
According to the report, textile waste has surged by 50% between 2000 and 2018, primarily driven by the fast-fashion industry’s rapid production cycles and inadequate recycling infrastructure. The GAO’s recommendations include establishing an interagency task force that involves the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Departments of State and Energy. The report also urges Congress to consider enacting a national strategy for managing textile waste.
While new recycling technologies show promise, challenges such as limited collection systems and the complexity of textile materials remain. The report emphasizes the necessity for enhanced federal coordination to address these barriers and move towards a more sustainable future for the industry.
The GAO report also notes that some federal entities have already started efforts to reduce textile waste and promote recycling. For instance, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been researching textile recycling methods and hosted a workshop on reducing textile waste in 2021. Moreover, the U.S. Department of State leads an informal interagency group that is focused on extending the life of products and materials, including a textiles meeting in March 2024.
The report underscores the importance of interagency collaboration to share resources and avoid duplicative efforts. By working together, federal agencies can enhance their capacity to reduce textile waste and advance recycling initiatives.
Sources:
[1] Textile Waste:Federal Entities Should Collaborate on Reduction and Recycling Efforts
