11/27/2024
By Gloria Donkor

The College of Fine Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Global Studies Program, invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation proposal defense by Gloria Donkor on “Beyond the Donation Bin, An Assessment of The Textile Recycling Sector Through the Lens of a Textile Disposal Ban”
Candidate Name: Gloria Donkor
Defense Date: December 11, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Dugan Hall, Room 204, South Campus
Committee:
Chair: Aaron Smith Walter, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Political Science Department, Interim Director, MPA Program, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Angelica Duran-Martinez, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Political Science Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Patrick Young, Ph.D., Associate Professor, History Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Abstract
This three-paper dissertation examines the multifaceted nature and challenges and implications of textile recycling. First, it evaluates the Massachusetts textile disposal ban's local and global impact, using systems theory to analyze stakeholder dynamics and interviews from Massachusetts and Accra, Ghana. The findings highlight the environmental benefits and market complexities of recycling, particularly in the Global South. The second paper investigates the role of eco-imperialism in shaping recycling behaviors to explore how awareness of environmental injustices influences participation in recycling programs. The final paper explores retailer take-back programs in the fashion industry through social media content, focusing on how brands communicate sustainability to consumers. Altogether this dissertation contributes to understanding the intersections of environmental governance, consumer behavior, and global power dynamics to foster a sustainable and equitable global recycling system.