Textiles are the fastest growing waste stream in the United States. Over 14 million tons of textiles go into landfills every year in the United States. The fashion industry is also concerned about a shortage of certain fibers in the near future, given the growth of “fast fashion.”
Facts on textile waste in the United States:
- The current textile recycling rate is 15%
- From 2000-2017, the textile waste generation rate increased 78%, while municipal solid waste grew only by 10%
- Studies show that it takes anywhere from 919 to 2,900 gallons of water to produce a single pair of typical jeans