UK while blaming China refutes claims of dumping used clothes (Mitumba) in Kenya
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UK refutes claims of dumping used clothes (Mitumba) in Kenya as it blames China for large quantities
UK refutes claims of dumping used clothes (Mitumba) in Kenya as it blames China for large quantities.
Textile Recycling Association (TRA) of the United Kingdom (UK) has denied claims that the country shipped substantial amounts of worn clothing to Kenya as waste.
The UK is no longer a big source of old clothing in Kenya, according to TRA Chief Executive Officer Alan Wheeler in an interview with Material Recycling World (MRW), a UK news publication on recycling.
According to Wheeler, Kenya only received 7,328,000 kilos of recycled clothing in 2021, and China was the major supplier of the material.
Moreover, Wheeler highlighted that China delivered up to 78,575,000 kg of recycled clothes to Kenya comparable to up to 43 percent of all worn clothing received in the country.
Further defending the textile recycling companies in the UK, the CEO stated that recycling used clothing was 70 times better for the environment than purchasing new ones.
“TRA members lead the way in promoting sustainable practices that ensure good quality items are traded globally.
“We adhere to some of the world’s most stringent requirements, such as fumigation of shipped items for the Kenyan market and physical inspection by an inspector at the point of loading,” Wheeler stated.
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Moreover, he added that the clothing and textile industry was responsible for 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions compared to the aviation and maritime industry combined.
“The global clothing reuse industry is beneficial to the environment. Additionally, it employs tens of millions of people,” added Wheeler.
The response comes after an investigation by Clean Up Kenya, and Wildlight for the Changing Markets Foundation (CMF) revealed that the items sent to Kenya are made of poor materials, such as polyester and nylon, that can not be reused or mended.
The CEO asked publishers of the Transition report, which originally published the findings, to submit evidence of their claims if there was a specific problem with the UK.
The report detailed that about 36 million mitumba items are shipped to Kenya from the UK every year terming the high numbers as the loophole in a 2019 legal agreement stopping richer countries from dumping non-recyclable plastic waste to less wealthy ones.
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