While California produces 200 million pounds of premium cotton annually, the majority is shipped overseas for processing, stripping the U.S. of an estimated $21.44 billion in value-added manufacturing and over 14,000 potential jobs. On May 29th, San Joaquin County will take center stage in the effort to bring that value back home.
The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC), in partnership with the San Joaquin County Public Works Department and funded by CalRecycle, will host a free Textile Recovery Education Event from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the San Joaquin County Robert J. Cabral Agricultural Center on May 29th, 2026.
This event marks a critical opportunity for the San Joaquin Valley following the 2024 passage of SB 707 (The Responsible Textile Recovery Act). This landmark law, sponsored by CPSC, makes California the first state in the nation to require textile producers to fund and manage the recycling of their products creating an immediate need for domestic textile infrastructure…