Used Textiles in Practice: Trade, Impacts and Development Pathways.
Tue, 23 Jun
|https://zoom.us/j/92141911528
International policies under the Basel Convention are being rewritten, and they risk misclassifying vital trade as "waste." If this happens, two million Kenyan livelihoods are at stake. Join our policy dialogue to demand economic justice and ensure our voices are finally heard.
Time & Location
23 Jun 2026, 19:30 – 20:30 GMT-7
https://zoom.us/j/92141911528
About the event
Policy Dialogue: Protecting Livelihoods & Circularity
While MCAK supports the Basel Convention’s environmental goals, we caution that current proposals—including the reclassification of used textiles as hazardous waste and the extension of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure—could devastate the mitumba trade. These measures risk imposing administrative costs that would force small-scale traders to close, destroying millions of livelihoods and reducing government tax revenue.
Evidence-Based Reality
Contrary to the "waste dumping" narrative, academic and UN-backed studies consistently show that waste in SHC imports ranges only from 0.8% to 5%. Our trade relies on strict adherence to KEBS Standard EAS 356:2019 and PVoC inspections, ensuring that second-hand clothing remains a vital, high-value component of the circular economy.
Our Recommendations
Separate Streams: Use HS Codes and B3030 to distinguish between household waste and reusable donations.