We often think of colonialism as something rooted in the past. A dark chapter of global conquest, exploitation and extraction that we’ve since moved beyond. But the truth is, colonialism didn’t end, it simply evolved. One of the clearest ways we see its modern face is through colonialism waste.

So, what is colonialism waste?

It’s the practice of wealthier, typically Western nations offloading their waste, including clothing and plastics, onto poorer countries. It’s environmental racism wrapped in trade agreements. It’s injustice, masked as donations or recycling, and it’s everywhere.

A new kind of extraction

Historically, colonial powers extracted raw materials and labour from colonised regions, leaving destruction in their wake. Today, those same regions are burdened with the environmental costs of global overconsumption. We are consuming at staggering rates and the third-world countries are paying the price by becoming the dumping ground for the waste that consumption creates.

We call that colonialism waste because it follows the same pattern of imbalance where one side benefits and the other bears the burden.

The fashion industry’s role

Fast fashion is a prime culprit. Brands that mass-produce cheap garments, encourage throwaway culture and when the clothes are no longer trendy? They're donated but not in the way you think.

Only a small fraction of donated clothes actually make it into secondhand shops. The rest is shipped to countries like Ghana, Kenya and Chile under the guise of charity. These countries are flooded with secondhand clothing (much of it unsellable), which ends up in landfills, burning piles and even ocean-bound waste streams.

E-Waste, Plastic, and More

Clothing is just one layer. Rich nations regularly ship electronic waste (e-waste), single-use plastics and industrial byproducts to countries with weaker environmental regulations. What’s labeled as “recycling” is often dangerous, poorly regulated work.

Communities end up with polluted air, poisoned water, and toxic soil. All because someone, somewhere, wanted to make disposal someone else’s problem.

Why It Matters

Colonialism waste isn’t just about garbage. It’s about systems of power. It’s about whose lives and land are considered disposable. It’s about how global capitalism still mirrors colonial hierarchies. extracting from the many to enrich the few.

So What Can We Do?

The good news: awareness is growing. More people are asking where their waste ends up and demanding accountability from the industries that produce it.

Here’s where we can start:

• Buy less, buy better. Fast fashion and tech giants thrive on volume. Slow your consumption.

• Support circular economies. Choose brands and platforms that prioritise reuse, repair and local sourcing.

Colonialism waste shows us that injustice doesn't always wear a uniform. Sometimes, it comes in shipping containers, labeled "recyclables.” But if we pay attention, we can call it out and start changing our shopping behaviours.

It’s not just about waste. It’s about who gets to live clean and who’s forced to live among what the world throws away.