Trashion: The Stealth Export Of Waste Plastic Clothes To Kenya
Changing Markets Foundation
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This exposé investigates how synthetic clothing waste from the EU and UK enters Kenya through second-hand clothing donations and resale. It reveals that 20?50% of imported items are low-quality plastic garments unsuitable for resale, often dumped or burned in landfills and waterways like Nairobi River. Brands such as Nike and H&M are implicated. The study identifies hidden pollution risks including microplastics in ecosystems and environmental health hazards from plastic incineration. It calls for stronger regulatory mechanisms such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), virgin plastic levies, and waste trade transparency. The report documents illegal disposal sites, fuel repurposing practices, and the failure of recycling labels to reflect material realities.