CCTV Finance reporters found that some livestream rooms selling clothing at low prices under the guise of "big-brand overstock" and "foreign trade one-of-a-kind items" actually source their goods from neighborhood used-clothing recycling bins and even dump sites. Tracked across Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shandong and other regions, these used clothes are sent to sorting factories, where they are only roughly broken down, packed by the ton without cleaning or disinfection, and finally funneled into livestream rooms for sale nationwide. Investigation data shows that in 2024, China discarded about 99.82 million tons of used textiles, while only about 5.15 million tons were properly recycled and reused. This huge utilization gap has created space for refurbishing and reselling.

Key Points

  • CCTV reporters tracked used clothes in Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shandong and other regions and found that clothes placed in charity recycling bins appeared in sorting factories within days, becoming commercial stock.
  • In 2024, China discarded about 99.82 million tons of used textiles, while only about 5.15 million tons were properly recycled and reused, a very low recycling rate.
  • Refurbishing costs only a few yuan, while livestream prices can reach dozens or even hundreds of yuan; one sorting company in Northeast China, for example, sells dozens of tons per day.

The "Charity" Label on Recycling Bins Is Used as a Cover for Stock Sourcing

Used-clothing recycling bins in residential communities, labeled with slogans such as "charitable donation" and "caring fundraising," have long been regarded by residents as a caring channel for disposing of old items, but not all of these clothes flow to assisted regions. The reporters' tracking in multiple locations showed that within just a few days after clothes were placed in the bins, they entered the sorting process. At the sorting site, used clothes were piled like mountains and smelled rotten. Workers only did very rough breakdown, and without cleaning or disinfection, the clothes were directly packed by the ton and shipped away. Staff at the sorting plant admitted that community recycling bins are one of their important sources of stock, and that charity markings effectively serve as cover for obtaining goods.

The Mismatch Between Livestream Sales Pitches and the Reality of the Stock

The next stop for roughly sorted used clothes is online livestream rooms, where they are sold under labels such as "overstock," "sample garments," "brand clearance," and "factory clearance." What consumers see is promotion for "big-brand overstock, foreign trade one-of-a-kind items," "low prices, bargain opportunities"; the actual stock, however, is scattered recycled used clothes and items picked from dump sites, mixed and sold without any hygiene treatment. Some hosts admitted in interviews that the stock is mixed, with one even saying it was "so dirty that even I couldn't stand looking at it." The reason such low-priced goods sell well online lies mainly in the huge gap between cost and selling price—refurbishing often costs only a few yuan, while livestream prices can reach dozens or even hundreds of yuan, truly "a small investment for huge profits."

Industry Impact: Supply Gap and Regulatory Vacuum Coexist

China is a major producer of used clothes, discarding nearly 100 million tons annually, but the proportion that is properly recycled and reused is very low, with large amounts of used clothes flowing through opaque channels. The huge supply-demand gap, extremely low raw material costs, and high profits keep this refurbishing and reselling chain in constant short supply, and also expose regulatory loopholes in the used-clothing recycling process. For the used-clothing recycling and secondhand apparel industry, this exposé means that compliance in three areas—recycling bin management, sorting and circulation, and livestream sales—will face stricter scrutiny. For consumers, the report's tips for avoiding pitfalls include: be wary of "one-of-a-kind" sales pitches featuring chaotic styles, incomplete sizes, and unusually low prices; note that refurbished used clothes come from scattered sources and it is difficult for large quantities of the same style and size to appear together; before ordering, ask to view the clothing up close from multiple angles and check for stains and wear; and weigh the possible health risks such as bacteria, parasites, and skin allergies.

Source: Behind livestream "one-of-a-kind" clothing: the used-clothing refurbishing industry chain from recycling bins to livestream rooms_Men's Tops_What's Worth Buying · Originally published on 2026-05-10