Email to my State Legislators about Textile Waste, Reuse & Repair, and the Future of EPR in Massachusetts

January 7, 2026

Happy new year. I’m writing as a Massachusetts resident, fiber artist, and creative business mentor who spends a lot of time at the crossroads of education, material culture, and sustainability. My work is really about helping people understand how materials live in the world (how they’re made, cared for, repaired, and eventually let go), and what our policy choices say about the value we place on those materials and the people who work with them.

As you may know, the European Union now requires separate textile collection (effective January 1, 2026) as part of its broader textile waste and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework.

While the U.S. doesn’t yet have a federal textile EPR policy, several states, including Massachusetts, are beginning to explore what a thoughtful, workable approach could look like.

This gives Massachusetts a real chance to lead with nuance rather than adopt one‑size‑fits‑all models that can unintentionally cause harm.

From where I sit in education, the creative economy, and hands‑on material work, one thing is very clear: textiles aren’t interchangeable commodities. When policies treat garments and fibers as disposable units instead of long‑lived materials with care and repair potential, we risk undermining the very people and small businesses who keep textiles in use and out of landfills.

Any future EPR framework in Massachusetts would benefit from:

  • Explicit support for reuse, repair, and longevity, not just recycling

  • Protection and integration of local repair economies, educators, and material experts

  • Clear differentiation between durable goods and fast‑turnover products

  • Ongoing consultation with practitioners who work hands‑on with textiles across their full lifecycle

As someone who teaches fiber literacy, material care, and sustainable creative practices, I see every day how policy signals shape behavior... what people keep, what they discard, and which industries survive.

Thoughtful EPR design can absolutely reinforce responsibility without accelerating waste through oversimplification.

I’d be glad to serve as a resource or sounding board as Massachusetts continues exploring textile EPR and related waste‑reduction policies. I’d also love to understand where the Commonwealth currently is in its thinking and how constituents with subject‑matter expertise can contribute meaningfully.

Thank you for considering approaches that reflect both environmental responsibility and the realities of how materials actually move through our communities.

Respectfully,
Mary Ann

Mary Ann Stewart
Fiber Artist • Educator • Creative Business Mentor
Lexington 02420