Textile Waste Management in Urban Marketing Systems: Analysis of the Gamarra Commercial Emporium Case in the Peruvian Context

Abstract

The increasing generation of textile waste constitutes a significant environmental challenge in urban contexts with high levels of informality. This study analyses the generation, management, and perception of textile waste within the trading system of the Gamarra Commercial Emporium (ECG), which is representative of the Peruvian urban sector due to its density of micro-enterprises and low material traceability. A descriptive quantitative approach was employed through surveys of 96 key actors and a characterisation via direct measurement over seven consecutive days at seven sampling points. The results evidence an average generation of 527 kg per day across the evaluated units, although the total estimated load within the system at the analysed points ranges between 2 and 6 tonnes daily due to commercial dynamics. The composition highlights general waste (46%) and textile waste (36%), followed by plastics (9%) and cardboard (9%). A strong dependence on informality was identified, with a ratio of informal to formal recyclers of 5:1 and an absence of source segregation. In terms of perception, 75% of actors consider the system to have cleanliness deficiencies, whilst 95% express a willingness to adopt separation practices if adequate conditions exist. It is concluded that textile waste management in the ECG is fragmented, with low institutional coordination and limited material traceability, which restricts its integration into circular economy models. Nevertheless, the existence of an active valorisation chain and the actors’ high readiness for change represent key opportunities for implementing sustainable strategies aimed at waste recovery and capacity building within the textile value chain.