Brexit stopped exporting used clothing from Britain to Eastern Europe

The effects of Brexit have been felt in various areas in weeks since the UK's actual departure from the EU, and British exporters of used clothing came by surprise, combining their second-hand deliveries to Eastern Europe with charitable work for projects in Britain.

A duty of 5.3 percent

The Belgian online newspaper The Brussels Times drew attention to this problem on Friday, describing the situation of one of the largest British recycling companies, ECS Textiles, from the town of North Shields in north-east England. After the New Year, British exporters found that their shipments of used clothes, toys and other unsold goods were blocked in port and had to pay a duty of 5.3 percent for them.

Charity and less waste

Last year, ECS sent five two-ton containers a week by sea to Latvia, from where the goods were distributed to other Eastern European countries. On its website, ECS describes this business as "raising vital funds for charitable projects". In addition to exporting second-hand goods to Eastern Europe, the company operates a number of schemes in the UK to sell used clothing, including home delivery, the creation of a "clothing bank" and funds for school-age children to buy clothing. "We encourage residents to recycle unwanted clothing, shoes, handbags, etc., in order to help raise funds for charity and reduce waste in landfills," the website said.