Table of Contents
A new investigation shows that the European Union (EU) dumps 37 million items of junk, plastic clothing in Kenya every year.
This fashion waste is too dirty or damaged, so it can’t be reused. The clothing is low quality, so it is dumped or burned which creates health and environmental problems.
The investigation, by Clean Up Kenya and Wildlight for the Changing Markets Foundation, shows the problem with fast fashion and the use of cheap, plastic material. The investigators say that fast fashion companies make too much clothing and dumping it should be illegal.
During the investigation, they found piles of junk clothing as high as four-story buildings.
Workers in Kenya say that there has been a large increase in the amount of junk clothing they receive each year.
Fast fashion companies sometimes send their unsold clothing to countries like Kenya. Kenyan traders buy large packages of clothing for cheap prices without seeing it. They hope that some of the clothing is good quality, but often dump a lot of it. The packages usually contain a mix of new, used and even damaged clothing.
Additionally, a lot of clothes that people donate are sent to countries like Kenya and dumped. There is too much clothing and a lot of it is junk.
Ghana, India, Nigeria and Pakistan also receive junk clothing from the EU.
This summer, the EU might make new rules that will require companies to pay for the waste that they make. The rules will also require companies to use more sustainable materials.
More than 65% of clothing is made of plastics like nylon and polyester which can’t be recycled.
Vocabulary
- Investigation – the action of examining/studying something carefully to learn the truth about it; a thorough search for facts; study; analysis
- Show – to prove something or make the truth or existence of something known; confirm; demonstrate; validate
- The European Union (EU) – 27 countries in Europe that work closely together
- Dump – to throw something away; get rid of;
- Item – a single object or thing; one piece
- Junk – things that are no longer wanted or useful, often trash or things that are broken
- Fashion – the business of making and selling new styles, especially of clothes, shoes and accessories
- Waste – garbage; trash; unwanted materials or products that are thrown away
- Reuse – to use something again, instead of throwing it away; to use again
- Low quality – something that is not made very well, or not very good; cheap
- Burn – to set something on fire or to make something to be destroyed by fire; to start a fire;
- Environmental – related to the natural world, the place we live, the area around us, nature
- Fast fashion – clothing that is made quickly and cheaply, usually using poor quality materials
- Illegal – not allowed by law; forbidden by official rules; unlawful; criminal
- Pile – a collection of things that are put together in a disorderly, unorganized or messy way
- Four-story building – a building with four floors
- Amount – quantity; number; total; sum; size
- Trader – someone who buys and sells goods or products, often for a profit
- Contain – to have within; to hold inside; to be part of
- Damaged – broken or not working correctly; bad condition
- Additionally – also; moreover; in addition; furthermore; plus
- Donate – to give money, food or goods to charity; to give something away to help others
- Require – make necessary; to order or demand something
- Sustainable – something that is able to continue and be used without causing damage to the environment or using up all the resources; eco-friendly; not bad for or damaging to the Earth;
- Material – a physical thing that you use to build or make other things (cotton is a common material used to make t-shirts)
- Recycle – to use again; to turn trash into something useable; repurpose
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Do you think that countries should make new rules that will require companies to pay for the waste that they make and use more sustainable materials? Why or why not?
- What do you think can be done to reduce the amount of fashion waste that is generated by fast fashion companies?
- Some people argue that donating clothing is not a sustainable solution, but rather it creates more waste in the long run. What is your opinion on this?
Original Story
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
