Why Donating Used Clothes Can Harm the Environment: A Call for Informed Consumer Choices – Daily Bruin

Los Angeles is facing a serious issue after weeks of devastating wildfires: a mountain of unwanted clothes. Donation bags are piling high in parking lots, creating a confusing mess. Donation centers are swamped and can’t handle the sheer volume of clothes pouring in, much of which will sadly end up in landfills, adding to our environmental problems.

In the wake of the fires, people rushed to clear out their closets, hoping to help. But this well-meaning effort has led to a flood of unsuitable and often unwearable items flooding aid centers. The reality is many people have clothes they no longer want but don’t know how to dispose of them responsibly.

As donation centers overflow, it’s clear they lack the resources to sort and manage this surplus effectively. Meanwhile, organizations from other states are shipping boxes of clothes to LA donation centers without a clear plan for distribution. This has turned Los Angeles into a dumping ground for secondhand clothes at a time when our textile waste is already skyrocketing.

This isn’t just a local problem. The Government Accountability Office reported a 50% increase in textile waste from 2000 to 2018. Most clothes take a long time to decompose, causing harm when they are landfilled or incinerated. While donating is often seen as a better option, only about 20% of donated clothing gets resold in the U.S. Most end up being exported, often to countries like Ghana, which sees around 15 million used garments each week. However, this import-led method of waste management is unstable, as shown by the recent fire that damaged the Kantamanto market in Ghana.

Countries like Uganda have even tried to ban imported used clothes to protect their own garment industries. Unfortunately, this highlights how disconnected many consumers are from the impact of their consumption. The reality of our overproduction and waste is now painfully clear.

The wildfires have created an environment where people feel like they are doing good by donating clothes. However, many of those in need, having lost homes and belongings, do not have space for countless garments. Despite the good intentions behind these donations, they can actually do more harm than good.

Now is the time to rethink how we manage textile waste. California’s SB707 legislation aims to improve textile recycling through a new stewardship program. Brands are stepping up, too, like Trashie, which has launched the Take Back Bag for responsible recycling of clothing.

Trashie is planning collections to help manage donations effectively. They aim to consolidate and sort donations to meet community needs better. If you know a center struggling with excess donations, they can apply for help through a simple online form.

The fires and the subsequent clothing crisis force us to confront hard truths about consumption, life’s fragility, and our climate challenges. It’s a wake-up call to reassess our habits and consider alternatives to donating clothes.

Instead of rushing to donate, let’s engage with our community meaningfully and think critically about our consumption. The real recovery from these wildfires needs thoughtful action and support moving forward.

Ella Johnson is a fourth-year public affairs student.