Atacama Desert faces massive textile waste crisis

A massive landfill of discarded clothing has been identified in Chile’s Atacama Desert, near the town of Alto Hospicio. The waste pile is so large that it is visible from space via satellite imagery.

Approximately 60,000 tons of clothing arrive annually at the port of Iquique from Europe, Asia, and the United States. Much of this merchandise enters through tax-free zones intended for distribution to other Latin American countries. However, a significant volume remains unsold, and because importers do not cover the costs of waste management, the garments are abandoned in the desert.

Investigations by the NGO Ek and the Desierto Vestido collective have identified labels from major global brands, including H&M, Adidas, Levi’s, Zara, Nike, and Hugo Boss, among others. The accumulation has led to environmental and health concerns, as clothing is sometimes burned clandestinely, causing toxic fires.