A mountain of discarded clothes in Chile has grown so large that it can be seen from space.

Dumping Ground for Western Fashion

The red-rock desert of Chile’s Atacama plateau has become a dumping ground for used Western fashion in recent years, with everything from ski boots to Christmas sweaters ending up in the local landfill.

The Growing Problem

The increasingly toxic pile of discarded clothing reflects the remains of the nearly 59,000 tons of used and unsold clothing that arrive at the port of Iquique in Chile every year from Europe, Asia and the US. Anything that cannot be sold through South America remains because it slowly decomposes.

Satellite Image Brings Attention to the Issue

The images were taken by SkyFi, a consumer application that sees its mission in “democratizing space” by making satellite imagery and technology more accessible to everyone.

A spokesman for SkyFi said: “The satellite image of a pile of clothes in Chile’s Atacama Desert that we requested really sheds light on the situation. The size of this pile and the pollution it causes can be seen from space, signaling the need for change in the fashion industry.”

Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion

Many garments made from synthetic fabrics or treated with chemicals will take up to 200 years to biodegrade, leaving behind toxins such as carcinogenic azo dyes and phthalates in synthetic leather, which have been linked to ADHD, asthma and diabetes.

The Fashion Industry’s Growing Trend

America’s and the rest of the developed world’s passion for fast fashion has grown into a $100 billion growing industry, according to a report by The Business Research.

The size of the ill-tailored clothing market briefly continued this trend, rising from $106.42 billion to $122.98 billion in 2023, according to an analysis by the research firm.

Damage to the Natural World

While media reports of the garment industry’s rampant and shifting obsession are often mirrored in revelations about child labor or slave wages in countries like China or Bangladesh, the damage done to the natural world at the end of the cycle has only recently received more attention.

Chile as a Hub for Discarded Clothing

With the northern Chilean port of Iquique, the South American country has become a hub for used and unsold clothing throughout Latin America.

And while merchants in the Chilean capital of Santiago buy some of the tens of thousands of tons of discarded clothing coming from developed countries, no less than 39,000 tons of truly unwanted items end up in the Atacama every year.

“These clothes come from all over the world,” Alex Carino, a former import officer in Iquique, told AFP in 2021.

“What is not sold in Santiago and sent to other countries stays in the free zone,” Carino said, because no one wants to pay the tariffs for seating, which is necessary just to transport clothes to another place.

Conclusion

The growing mountain of discarded clothes in Chile’s Atacama Desert is a visible example of the damaging impact of fast fashion on the environment. It highlights the need for consumers and the fashion industry to take responsibility for reducing waste and finding sustainable solutions.

Source: Daily Mail