Because the world marks the Worldwide Day of Zero Waste 2025, environmental advocacy teams World Alliance for Incinerator Alternate options (GAIA) Africa and the Inexperienced Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) are calling for pressing motion towards the unchecked dumping of textile waste in Africa. With the theme “In the direction of Zero Waste in Trend and Textiles,” this 12 months’s observance highlights the devastating influence of quick style on the setting, significantly within the World South.
The worldwide style business produces an estimated 92 million tonnes of textile waste yearly. A good portion of this waste finds its manner into African markets beneath the guise of second-hand clothes donations. Ghana’s Kantamanto Market alone receives roughly 15 million gadgets of used clothes each week—principally from the World North. Sadly, a lot of this imported clothes is unsellable as a consequence of poor high quality, resulting in widespread dumping in landfills and unlawful waste websites.
Jacob Johnson Attakpah, GAYO’s Venture Supervisor for the Zero Waste Cities Program, warns that the continent is being overwhelmed by textile waste:
“Africa refuses to be on the receiving finish of textile waste, particularly from the West. The style business should embrace round design, accountable sourcing, and revolutionary recycling to maneuver in the direction of true zero waste.”
The results of this textile waste disaster prolong past environmental degradation. In cities like Accra, discarded clothes clogs drainage methods, exacerbates flooding, and pollutes coastal areas. Waves that when carried seashells to Ghana’s shores now dredge up heaps of deserted clothes. The notorious Agbogbloshie Market has turn out to be a dumping floor the place mountains of unsellable clothes accumulate, worsening air pollution ranges.
Along with environmental considerations, the inflow of second-hand clothes undermines Africa’s native textile business. The fixed provide of low cost, low-quality imports reduces demand for regionally produced materials, forcing many artisans and producers out of enterprise.
The commerce of second-hand textiles is dominated by developed nations. In response to commerce knowledge, the highest exporters of used clothes in 2023 included:
- United States – $1.06 billion price of used clothes exports
- China – $681 million
- Germany – $338 million
- United Kingdom – $327 million
Many of those garments find yourself in African nations, the place they usually turn out to be an unmanageable waste downside. Nirere Sadrach, Founding father of Finish Plastic Air pollution (EPP) in Uganda, criticizes this apply as “waste colonialism”:
“Some nations within the World North are utilizing the second-hand textile commerce as a strategy to export their waste to poorer nations. The businesses producing this stuff for first-time use should take accountability for his or her full lifecycle.”
GAIA Africa and its companions are urging quick coverage interventions to curb the environmental and financial harm brought on by quick style waste. Their calls for embody:
- A Ban on Unmanageable Textile Waste Dumping – African governments should prohibit the importation of second-hand clothes that can not be reused, repurposed, or recycled.
- Prolonged Producer Duty (EPR) – Trend manufacturers have to be held accountable for the waste they generate and implement sustainable end-of-life options for his or her merchandise.
- Funding in Native Textile Industries – Insurance policies ought to assist the expansion of Africa’s textile sector, emphasizing sustainability and round economies.
- Client Consciousness and Motion – Shifting world shopper habits in the direction of sustainable style selections is vital in lowering demand for quick style.
Desmond Alugnoa, GAIA Africa’s Program Supervisor, insists “Africa can not turn out to be a dumping floor for quick style’s waste. This isn’t charity; that is waste colonialism. We demand pressing insurance policies to cease the export of unmanageable textile waste to Africa and to carry companies accountable.”
Some teams just like the Or Basis is creating a brand new narrative for Accra’s textile waste downside. The waste that when polluted landfills is now being remodeled into sustainable merchandise together with laptop computer stands, speaker shells, and hangers. These merchandise characterize only a fraction of what’s attainable, as analysis and improvement continues. – to be eliminated.
Because the world observes the Worldwide Day of Zero Waste, African nations and environmental organizations are taking a stand towards the dangerous practices of the quick style business. With mounting textile waste threatening ecosystems, economies, and communities, the decision for systemic change has by no means been extra pressing. The struggle towards “waste colonialism” isn’t just an African wrestle—it’s a world accountability.
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