Kenya’s clothing waste raises concerns about potential public health risks

Kenya's secondhand clothing trade, which supports an estimated 2 million livelihoods, is under scrutiny after a Science letter warned that discarded textiles can harbor bacteria like E. coli and Klebsiella, linked to illnesses from UTIs to sepsis. More than 4.5 billion used garments arrive in Africa annually, with Nairobi's largest dumpsite alone receiving roughly 86 metric tons of textile waste daily.

Researchers also flag microplastics from degrading synthetic fabrics as vectors for pathogens and antibiotic resistance. The letter's authors call for tighter export quality controls, better recycling infrastructure, and a stricter international definition of 'used goods' to close loopholes enabling waste trafficking.

Kenya has passed a Sustainable Waste Management Act promoting recycling and extended producer responsibility, and industry figures suggest importers could form their own EPR mechanism funded by retailer fees. The letter's authors nonetheless warn that without stronger oversight from exporting nations, the costs will keep falling on African countries.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.