On September 9, 2025, the European Parliament adopted a new
directive amending the Waste Framework Directive with respect to
textiles and food waste. In particular, textiles will be subject to
extended producer responsibility ("EPR"). Textile waste
targeted by the directive includes used clothes as well as
accessories, hats, footwear, blankets, bed and kitchen linen, and
curtains.
The EPR requires "producers" (defined below) to pay
for, and organize, a separate collection system for used and waste
textiles, as well as subsequent sorting and treatment processes in
line with the waste hierarchy. This hierarchy gives preference to
reusing (second-hand textiles) and recycling above valorization,
with landfills as a last resort option.
