Policy, Waste, and Power
Textile Dumping in Chile's Atacama Desert
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17818942 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Emma Minerva Brambilla (0009-0006-3433-107X, London School of Economics and Political Science, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-29 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Latin American Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2041-7373 • E-ISSN: 2041-7365 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/lamp.70053 |
| OpenAlex | W7159587619 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 20 |
Globally, 87% of textile fibers end up incinerated or in landfills, with Chile bearing the brunt of this crisis. Every year, 39,000 tons of discarded clothing are illegally dumped in the Atacama Desert, turning it into a sacrifice zone for the Global North's waste economy. In response, Chile introduced the “National Solid Waste Policy 2018–2030” to regulate textile waste, yet its gaps perpetuate rather than resolve environmental injustice and existing power relations. This research addresses the question, how does the “National Solid Waste Policy 2018–2030“ contribute to the reproduction of existing power relations in the Atacama Desert? Applying Lukes' three‐dimensional power framework, this research argues the policy excludes marginalized communities (first dimension), shields Global North actors from accountability (second dimension), and depoliticizes textile dumping as a technical issue (third dimension). To break this cycle, urgent preventive measures—including Extended Producer Responsibility laws, trade reforms, and the formalization of informal waste workers—must be implemented before 2030. Still, prevention alone is insufficient. This research advances a bold restoration strategy, inspired by ocean cleanup initiatives, to convert textile waste into renewable biofuels
Accountability · Clothing · Dumping · Extended producer responsibility · Incineration · Textile · Agriculture, Land Use, Rural Development · Bioeconomy and Sustainability Development · Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability
Power
Social capital and rural development research in Chile. A qualitative review and quantitative analysis based on academic articles
Unleashing Waste-Pickers’ Potential
Finding the Spaces for Change
Pollution Is Colonialism
Impactos ambientais do fast fashion
Climate change governance and Indigenous Peoples participation
Beyond "the State" and Failed Schemes
Informal Income Opportunities and Urban Employment in Ghana
| Highly cited | No |
|---|