Recycling is considered a sustainable development trend in fashion. Thanks to recycled fashion, the world cuts a large amount of waste each year. However, many used clothing products from Europe, America, and Asia are sent to East Africa for recycling in such poor quality that they cannot be resold, and their life cycle ends in Landfills.

Gikomba Market in Nairobi is the center of Kenya's second-hand clothing trade. It's always packed with shoppers looking for bargains from Western-brand fashions that are recycled and sold for a fraction of the original cost. These sacks filled with old clothes are a source of livelihood for many Kenyans.

Mr. John Mwangi - A small trader, in Nairobi city, Kenya said: "Selling second-hand clothes helps me take care of my daily needs. Other than that, I don't know anything else, I don't know. doing what".

However, not every second-hand clothing product can be sold. Those that are too poor quality and cannot be reused will be burned or thrown away. It is estimated that 30-40% of second-hand clothing imported into Kenya ends up in landfills. Just like that, recycling fashion landfills began to form again. Environmental protection organization Greenpeace even said that this is a poisoned gift.

Ms. Janet Chemitei - Greenpeace environmental protection organization said: "The fabric they use to make these clothes is a synthetic fiber, and synthetic fiber is produced from fossil fuels. In the long run, it harms the environment. Brands need to take responsibility and stop producing fast fashion."

According to Greenpeace, wealthier countries are using countries like Kenya as landfills for textile waste that they cannot recycle on their own. Although there are already several companies specializing in recycling in Kenya, environmentalists are concerned that, with the current situation of textile waste, the problem will become more serious in Kenya.

Via: vtv.vn