Textiles pose challenges for mixed recycling methods due to their absorbency (making them easily stained) and tendency to get tangled up in the machines. Efforts on the Central Coast are instead promoting a “circular economy” of textiles through reuse, repair, sustainable design, and improved recycling methods to mitigate textile waste and pollution.
At a recent textile recycling workshop in Goleta, hosted by the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) and funded by CalRecycle, leaders shared strategies for expanding textile recovery. The workshop stemmed from the county wishing to explore its options for dealing with textiles.
“But once we started peeling back the onion, it was like this whole world of sustainable fashion in Santa Barbara — there’s regenerative agriculture, and you’ve got some upcycling superstars there, like Patagonia and Deckers,” explained Joanne Brasch, director of advocacy for the CPSC. “Not to mention you have alpaca farms in your backyard, producing one of the highest-quality, luxurious, sustainable fibers in the world.”