U.S. exports of used clothing creating waste nightmare

Over one and half billion pounds of used clothing are exported from America each year and some of it ends up in Ghana. CBS Foriegn Correspondent Debora Patta follows that clothing to Accra's Kantamanto Market where much is upcycled and resold, but as more clothing arrives than the country can handle, Patta sees how an estimated 40% ends up rotting in landfills creating an environmental disaster.

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[ziaride]

Who wears something just 7 times before discarding it? It would be a full time job shopping for clothing.

[jaaz]

How about you news anchors, influencers and celebrities start repeating clothes!

[momboys]

The only things I buy new are underwear and bras. I always buy second hand, wear them until they're worn out and cut them up for rags at that point. I HATE waste!!

[xjarheadjohnson]

THE 5 R'S (in order):
1 -REFUSE
2 - REDUCE
3 - REUSE
4 - REPURPOSE
5 - RECYCLE

[juliea.]

Had no idea where it ended up. Shocking and saddening!

[Ladibug]

We need to keep our garbage in our country, I personally will be more mindful from now on

[ToLoveIsToLive]

My husband and I live by the mindset “Quality over quantity “!

[nancyparker]

What an eye opening report. I usually buy second hand clothes. What a shame that the United States is so wasteful. We all need to stop destroying our planet and resources.

[iseewhatyoudidthere]

Used clothing should be free, readily available and even distributed among the people of the country they came from, first.

[TheREZMobile]

Wow. This is why I wear clothes for years before discarding. The footage is unbelievable. 🎥 💯

[monicajuarez]

It’s the same situation with all our recycling products we send over across seas as well. The US just needs to stop sending in their trash around the world and deal with it in its own, show their people to not be wasteful and recycle they’re own plastics and unwanted clothes

[hopolo]

99% of my clothes are second- or third-hand.

[pbj]

OMG THIS IS MINDBLOWING!!! I live next to the beach, there’s trash here and there but she’s literally picking up fabric from the sand?! 😳

[J.gwenhwyfar]

I saw those waste dumps when I was in Ghana a few years ago and I was appalled! That is why I have since reduced my consumption and now give clothes directly to people I know will use them. I even pay money to ship it to friends and family wherever they are. It's more expensive for me to do that, but it's better than donating it so it. Donating simply removes it from our spaces, but becomes someone else's problem.

So, we all need to do our part by reducing consumption, buying second hand (and only when needed), and giving directly to those who use them.

[slaytonmarks]

Americans should be ashamed of all the waste being sent to poor countries.

[leahb]

How can the population of the world allow such an atrocity? We're literally funding the Earth's mismanagement.

[bigdaddyrat]

My clothes get worn out before they get thrown away.
Shoes-primarily leather
Other-almost entirely cotton

[DaneReidVoiceOver]

The president of Ghana is a brilliant man and fighter in the interest of his country. The country should either stop accepting used garments or limit how much they accept

[nopenope]

I buy second hand...and when I don't, I typically end up keeping those items for years upon years. I have sweaters and jeans in my closet that are over 10years old. Others, I give to my daughter or my niece who then keep them for a few more years after that!! Cloths are expensive man. I couldn't imagine buying a $20 shirt just to wear it once or twice and then throw it away, I couldn't even do that with a $5 dollar shirt!! What a waste.

[valleywinner]

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