Second-hand clothing pollution and the e-waste dilemma in Africa

Ghana receives an estimated 15 million pieces of second-hand clothing from around the world every week, nearly half of which cannot be resold and end up piling up on Accra’s beaches or being burned in the open, leading to the collapse of coastal ecosystems. These garments contain high levels of synthetic fibers, releasing microplastics and contaminating soil and groundwater. Meanwhile, the illegal dismantling of electronic equipment continues in Agboroshi, the “Sin City” of Africa’s e-waste dumps, where lead, mercury and other heavy metal pollution threatens the health of the surrounding population.