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In the heart of Atacama, a great desert located in Chile, tons of clothes are piling up. A surprising phenomenon linked to overconsumption
In Chile, many people are heading to the Atacama Desert to refuel … of clothes. The desert is full of textile waste and many clothes which are collected by families without financial means. For 40 years, Chile has been a specialist in recycling and processing second-hand clothing. But the South American country is now overwhelmed, receiving textiles from all over the world. Landfills form in the middle of nature, especially in the desert ofAtacama.
For many people, these open-air bins are an opportunity, especially for migrants from foreign countries, like Sofia, from Venezuela. “I left with a large suitcase, but I had to throw everything on the way”, says the young woman. Thanks to the textiles present in the desert, there is no need to beg or save money in order to cover yourself. The clothes come from the European and American continents, where the population shows overconsumption, and does not hesitate to get rid of clothes in good condition.