The clothing mountain visible from space: How 60,000 tonnes of discarded clothes ended up in Chile’s Atacama Desert
How unwanted clothes end up in Chile The clothing mountain keeps growing Why donated clothes can still become waste What happens when clothes are left
How unwanted clothes end up in Chile The clothing mountain keeps growing Why donated clothes can still become waste What happens when clothes are left in the desert How fast fashion fuels the problem The human side of the clothing mountain Attempts to clean up the waste Laws are beginning to change A global issue visible from the desert In Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, a massive mountain of discarded clothing has become a striking symbol of the global fast fashion crisis. Outside the northern city of Alto Hospicio, thousands of tonnes of unwanted garments from around the world now cover the desert landscape. Many clothes arrived through the international second-hand trade, with some finding new owners while others remained unsold and were abandoned. The growing textile waste site, estimated to contain around 60,000 tonnes of clothing, includes jackets, shoes, children’s wear and even garments with tags still attached. Reportedly, satellite images have revealed the scale of the problem, highlighting the hidden environmental cost of modern fashion consumption.Chile has developed into one of the world's largest entry points for used clothing. Every year, well over 60,000 tonnes of second-hand garments arrive through the northern port of Iquique, much of it shipped from Europe, the United States, Canada and parts of Asia.The city's free-trade zone has long made importing goods relatively straightforward. Traders sort, grade and resell clothing to buyers across Latin America, supplying markets where affordable second-hand fashion remains in demand.The system supports thousands of jobs, particularly in sorting and resale businesses, and much of the clothing does find a second life.The difficulty begins when garments cannot be sold. Poor-quality items, damaged stock, outdated fashion and unsold surplus all become expensive to remove.
Exporting them elsewhere costs money. Sending them to authorised waste facilities also carries a price. As a result, some traders have illegally abandoned or burned unwanted clothing in the surrounding desert rather than paying for proper disposal.Over many years, those abandoned garments have accumulated into what has become widely known as the Atacama clothing mountain. Estimates vary, but tens of thousands of tonnes of textiles now remain scattered across several dumping areas surrounding Alto Hospicio.Satellite imagery has highlighted the scale of the problem, with large patches of discarded clothing clearly distinguishable from the surrounding landscape. Environmental groups say the piles continue to expand as fresh shipments arrive every year while relatively little existing waste is removed.Among the discarded items are winter coats, sportswear, children's clothing, shoes and garments that still carry original price tags. Many were never worn by a consumer before entering the global second-hand market.Dropping clothes into a donation bin does not necessarily guarantee they will be reused by another person.Collected textiles pass through a complex international network where they are sorted into different quality grades. The best pieces are often sold domestically or exported for resale. Lower-quality clothing may continue through several countries before eventually reaching markets where demand is weaker.If there are no buyers, the clothing effectively becomes commercial waste. That situation has become increasingly common as fast fashion has expanded. Consumers purchase clothing more frequently than in previous decades while garments are often made with lower-cost materials designed for shorter lifespans. As more unwanted clothing enters the recycling and resale system, markets struggle to absorb the volume.Unlike natural fibres such as cotton or wool, many modern garments contain polyester and other synthetic materials derived from petroleum.When dumped outdoors, these fabrics can remain in the environment for decades.
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