International Day of Zero Waste: Chile's Atacama desert, a clothing graveyard • FRANCE 24 English

Summary

In Chile's Atacama Desert, illegal dumping of secondhand clothes has become a massive environmental issue. Importing used textiles for decades, the region now faces a growing waste crisis, with millions of tons of discarded clothes ending up in the desert every year. Despite the low-cost fashion market thriving in nearby Alto Hospicio, much of the clothing goes unsold and is burned or discarded. The local community is fighting back, with efforts to promote circular economies and recycling. Designers are transforming discarded garments into new creations, aiming to raise awareness about the environmental cost of fast fashion.

Takeaways

• 😀 Illegal dumping in the Atacama Desert, just outside Alto Hospicio, has significantly increased, with mountains of waste visible from the town.
• 😀 Waste in the desert includes a variety of discarded items, such as clothes, plastics, and tires, which decompose very slowly, especially textiles that can remain for hundreds of years.
• 😀 Chile has long been a hub for importing second-hand clothing, often from Europe, North America, and Asia, and it plays a key role in this informal textile trade.
• 😀 Much of the discarded clothing, even recognizable foreign brands, ends up being burned in the desert to dispose of unsold stock, causing significant environmental damage.
• 😀 Over 130,000 tons of used clothing arrive annually in Chile, with a large portion being unsold or donated items, which are then dumped in the desert after being processed through informal middlemen.
• 😀 More than half of imported textiles end up in the desert, contributing to environmental pollution and waste accumulation in the region.
• 😀 Local markets, such as in Alto Hospicio, sell cheap, discarded clothing, often from international brands, which people in the area can't afford to buy at retail prices.
• 😀 Despite the low prices, not all clothes are sold, and many are discarded again, contributing to the growing waste problem in the desert.
• 😀 The town council of Alto Hospicio faces significant challenges in managing the waste, with an estimated cost of over 4 million EUR per year to handle the growing textile waste problem.
• 😀 Chile's Ministry of the Environment is working on legislation to promote a circular economy, encourage textile recycling, and make producers accountable for their waste, though progress has been slow.

Q & A

What is the major environmental issue discussed in the transcript?

The major environmental issue discussed is the illegal dumping of waste, particularly textiles, in the Atacama Desert near Alto Hospicio, Chile. This waste, including clothes, plastic, and tires, has been accumulating in large quantities, causing significant pollution.

How does the waste in the Atacama Desert impact the environment?

The waste in the Atacama Desert decomposes very slowly due to the harsh conditions, which means it can remain in the environment for hundreds of years, especially textiles. These materials contribute to long-term pollution and environmental damage.

What role does Chile play in the global secondhand clothing market?

Chile has been a major importer of secondhand clothes for decades. The country receives large quantities of used clothing from Europe, North America, and Asia, much of it unsold or donated items. These clothes are sorted and resold, but a significant portion ends up being dumped in the desert.

Why are so many clothes being discarded in the desert?

Many clothes are discarded in the desert because they are either unsellable, out of fashion, or no longer useful. When these clothes can't be resold, they are often burned or dumped, contributing to environmental pollution.

What is the local market in Alto Hospicio like, and what kind of clothes are sold?

The local market in Alto Hospicio sells low-cost clothes, many of which come from the desert or are imported in bulk. Customers can find popular international brands like Zara, Mango, and H&M at much lower prices than in regular stores.

What is the economic significance of the secondhand clothing business in the region?

The secondhand clothing business is a significant part of the local economy in Alto Hospicio, providing affordable clothes to many residents. The market relies on the discarded clothes from the desert, creating a circular economy that supports both local traders and customers.

What are the authorities in Chile doing to address the issue of textile waste?

The Chilean Ministry of the Environment has been working on legislation to promote circular economies and hold textile producers responsible for their waste. This includes efforts to define what constitutes textile waste and finding solutions for recycling these materials.

How are local people in Alto Hospicio contributing to the solution of textile waste?

Local people, including fashion designers, are contributing by repurposing discarded clothes from the desert. One designer, for example, collects old clothes and transforms them into new, fashionable items, raising awareness about fast fashion's negative impact.

What are the environmental and social implications of donating clothes to countries like Chile?

While donating clothes may seem like a charitable act, the reality is that many of these clothes end up as waste. In Chile, large quantities of donated clothes are discarded or burned, contributing to environmental pollution and possibly exacerbating waste issues in the desert.

How much clothing is produced globally each year, and how has production changed over time?

Around 100 billion items of clothing are manufactured globally each year, with production having doubled over the last 20 years. This rapid increase in clothing production is closely linked to the growing environmental issues related to textile waste.