SOLID WASTE

MANAGEMENT IN
TANNERY INDUSTRY

Submitted to: DR. R NARESH KUMAR

By:

Dhiraj kumar

MT/MEC/10006/19
 INTRODUCTION

GENERAL

Leather industry has gained high socio-economic relevance in

India. Leather sector has contributed significant economic growth by
providing job opportunities. Leather industry in India is spread over more in
the unorganized sector. The small scale, cottage and artisan sectors account
for over 90% of the total production. Today, the industry ranks 8 th in the
export trade in terms of foreign exchange earnings of the country. Leather
industry occupies a place of prominence in the Indian economy, by
contributing 2 billion US dollars in terms of export, and its share in world
trade is 2%. Leather industry is providing employment to nearly 2.5 million
people and the majority of tanneries fall under small and medium scale
enterprises (Taylor 2005).

The main reason for the development and growth of the leather
industry in the country is its large animal population. India enjoys nearly 10%
of the total global availability of raw hides and skins which are the basic raw
material for the leather industry. The raw material availability in Indian as per
the 2003 raw material survey report is presented in Table 1.1 (Chandramouli
2005).
 Table 1.1 Availability of Hides and Skins in India in 2003

Category No. of Pieces (in millions)

Cattle hides 22.770

Buffalo hides 27.875

Goat skins 81.900

Sheep skins 29.660

The tannery operation consists of converting the raw skin, a highly

putrescible material, into leather, a stable material, which can be used in the
manufacture of a wide range of products. The whole process involves a
sequence of complex chemical reactions and mechanical processes (UNEP
1991). Amongst these, tanning is the fundamental stage which gives leather
its stability and essential characters. Raw hides/ skins after various steps of
pre and post treatments are converted into a final product with specific
properties: stability, appearance, water resistance, temperature resistance,
elasticity and permeability for perspiration.

In India as per 2008 statistics around 2 billion sq. ft. of finished

leather per annum was produced and the industry has set a target to double
this figure by the year 2011-12 (Raghavan 2008). On the other hand, the
industry has been facing serious challenges on account of pollution related
problems (Langerwerf and Chandra Babu 1999). The presence of eco-
sensitive chemicals in leathers is an area of concern (Chandrababu et al 2003).

Due to high wage levels in developed countries, manufacturing of

leather products such as shoes, apparels and personal consumer leather goods
was shifted to developing countries. Hence developing countries became their
main sources of supply. The post liberalization era had opened up a plethora
of opportunities for the Indian leather industry. With global players looking
for new sourcing options, India stood to gain a bigger share of the global
market. Leading brands from the USA and Europe are now outsourcing
mostly leather and leather products from India.

The malodorous atmosphere around traditional tannery clusters

creates the impression of a highly polluting industry. Tanneries fall under the
‘red’ category of industries in India based on the pollution potential. The
impact of tanning and associated activities on air, on surface and ground
water and soil pollution arises from the chemicals applied, the raw materials
used and the effluents, waste and off-gas releases generated in the process.

Many leading importers of branded products in industrialized

countries have started insisting on their suppliers that they must conform to
their respective national environmental and labour standards. The exporters of
developing countries, doing business with importers from developed
countries, have no option other than to comply with environmental standards.
Since early 80’s, tanning industry began to tackle environmental pollution
problems of liquid and solid wastes generated during tanning processes.

CLASSIFICATION OF TANNERIES IN INDIA

The leather industry in India has grown in clusters for historical

reasons. Tanneries are classified based on processing capacity and type of
process adopted, as below:

(i) Raw to semi-finish (wet-blue or vegetable tanning) stage

(ii) Semi-finish (wet-blue or vegetable tanning) to finish stage
and
(iii) Raw to finish stage.
ENUMERATION OF TANNERIES IN INDIA

Primarily tanning operations are concentrated in the regions where

availability of good quality water and raw materials are abundant. In India,
tanning clusters are located in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh,
Punjab, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and few isolated tanneries are in
Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala. The locations of tanneries in various
tanning clusters in India are presented in Figure 1.1. The state-wise
distribution of tanneries in India is given in Table 1.2.

Figure 1.1 Location of Tanneries in India

Source: Comprehensive Industry Document on Tanneries (COINDS), CPCB, 2010
 Table 1.2 State-wise Distribution of Tanneries in India

State No. of Percentage

Tanneries
Tamil Nadu 712 35.60
West Bengal 218 10.90
Punjab 45 2.25
Uttar Pradesh 431 21.55
Andhra Pradesh 15 0.75
Bihar 6 0.30
Haryana 13 0.65
National Capital Region (NCR) 20 1.00
Other States 540 27.00
Total 2000 100.00

Source: Comprehensive Industry Document on Tanneries (COINDS), CPCB, 2010

WATER USAGE AND POLLUTION POTENTIAL

The quantity of chemicals used in tanning processes is almost in the

same range in all the regions in India. Depending on the availability of water,
the wash water volume usage varies and wash water contains chemicals in
various concentrations in the sectional and composite wastewater. The
concentration of the pollutants present in the wastewater also depends on the
cleaner technology adopted in the tanneries like dusting of salt, recovery and
reuse of chromium and quality of the chemicals used. In Tamil Nadu, it is
mandatory for the tanneries processing raw to semi-finish (chrome tanning
process), to have chrome recovery system. Due to scarcity of water, the
quantity of water used for washing is less in Tamil Nadu State, when
compared with other parts of the country. Due to this, the concentrations of
the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
are comparatively high in wastewater. But in the case of tanneries in Uttar
Pradesh, Punjab and West Bengal, the volume of water used for washing are
high and this results in dilution of the pollutants. In Andhra Pradesh and
Tamil Nadu, soak and pickle liquor are segregated and conveyed to solar
evaporation pans. But in other parts of the country, no segregation of soak and
pickle is done and they are combined with the remaining sectional streams.
The volume of water usage for the tanning process in Tamil Nadu and other
states are given in Table 1.3.

Table 1.3 Water usages for Processing Raw to Semi-Finish and Semi-
Finish to Finished Leather

Water Usage*
Sl.
Name of the Stream Tamil Other States
No.
Nadu in India
1 Water usage for raw to semi-finish
12-14 12-14
process
2 Water usage for Washing 8-10 14-18
Total water usage for Raw to Semi-Finish
20-24 26-32
Operations
3 Water usage for semi-finish to finish
4-6 4-6
process
4 Water usage for Washing 6-8 10-12
Total water usage for Semi-Finish to
10-14 14-18
Finished Leather
5 Water usage for raw to finish process 16-20 16-20
6 Water usage for Washing 14-18 24-30
Total water usage for Raw to Finished
30-38 40-50
Leather Operations
* Water consumption in m3 for processing one tonne of raw hides/ skins

Source: Comprehensive Industry Document on Tanneries (COINDS), CPCB, 2010

WASTEWATER GENERATION

The leather tanning is a raw materials and labour intensive industry.

The raw materials account for 50 to 70 % of production costs, labour 7 to 15
%, chemicals about 10% and energy 3%. It involves a series of batch
processes during which each hide must be processed separately and
sometimes manually. The processes of tanning of raw hides/ skins into semi-
finish leather and semi-finish to finished leather are presented in Figures 1.2,
1.3a and 1.3b. The schemes of generation of wastewater and their
characteristics are also presented in the figures.

SALTED SKINS / HIDES

WATER, BIOCIDES SOAKING WASTEWATER, TDS, SS

(Pits, Paddles, Drums) CHLORIDES, BOD, COD

ENZYMES

SOLAR EVAPORATION PAN

WATER, LIME LIMING/

SODIUM SULPHIDES RELIMING/UNHAIRING WASTEWATER, High pH, BOD,
(Pits, Paddles, Drums) COD, SS, SULPHIDES

FLESHING (WASTEWATER in
WATER FLESHING
(Manual/Mechanical) the case of mechanical
operation)

WATER, AMMONIUM SALTS

DELIMING WASTEWATER with TDS
(Drums) NITROGEN, BOD, COD
BATING ENZYMES

WATER, SALT WASTEWATER,TDS

PICKLING
(Drums) Low pH, CHLORIDES,
SULFURIC ACID SULPHATE

SOLAR EVAPORATION PAN

WATER
BASIC CHROMIUM SULPHATE CHROME WASTEWATER, SULPHATE,
SODIUM SALTS TANNING CHLORIDE, CHROMIUM,TDS

CHROME RECOVERY SYSTEM

WETBLUE LEATHER

Figure 1.2 Wastewater Generated in Tanning of Raw Hides/ Skins into

Semi-Finish Leather (Source: Comprehensive Industry Document on
Tanneries (COINDS), CPCB, 2010)
 VEGETABLE CHROME TANNED
TANNED EI LEATHER WETBLUE LEATHER

WATER WETTING BACK WASTEWATER, BOD, SAMMYING WASTEWATER,TDS

and BLEACHING CHROMIUM,
SODIUM SALTS COD, TDS, TANNIN and SHAVING WETBLUE SHAVING
(Drums)

SEMI- CHROME WASTEWATER,

WATER, CHROMIUM WATER, RECHROMING/ WASTEWATER,TDS
TANNING CHROMIUM
SYNTAN CHROMIUM, RETANNING CHROMIUM,
(Drums) TDS, SULPHATE
SYNTANS (Drums) SULPHATE

WATER
SODIUM BICARBONATE/ NEUTRALISATION WASTEWATER,
(Drums) TDS DRYING &
SODIUM FORMATE WATER, DYES, WASTEWATER,TDS
FAT LIQUOR FAT LIQUORING COD,BOD
(Drums) SULPHATE

DYEING & FAT WASTEWATER,

WATER, DYES
LIQUORING BOD, COD,
FAT LIQUORS TDS, SULPHATE
(Pits/Drums)
DRY FINISHING
(Machinery operations)

DRY FINISHING

FINISHED LEATHER

FINISHED LEATHER

(a) For Processing Vegetable Tanned EI Leather (b) For Processing Chrome Tanned Leather
Figure 1.3 Wastewater Generated in Processing Semi-Finish to Finished Leather (Source:
8
Comprehensive Industry Document on Tanneries (COINDS), CPCB, 2010)
 9

Water and material used for processing 1000 kg of raw hides/skins into
finished leather are presented in Table 1.4.

Table 1.4 Water and Material Used for Processing of Raw Hides/skins into
Finished Leather
Water
including
Process
Washing Chemical Quantity (kg)
Description
(cubic
meter)
Raw material 1000
Before soak
Wetting agent - 1-3
soaking 6-9 Preservative 0.1 - 1
Surfactant 2-4
Calcium Hydroxide 35-40
liming 6-11 Sodium Sulphide 20-25
Calcium Hydroxide
Re-Liming 2-3 5-10
Ammonium salts 25-27
Deliming and Acids 8-10
3-4
bating Enzyme 3-5
NaCl 50-55
H2SO4/HCOOH 10-12
Pickling and Chrome extract 80-90
3-5 (25% Cr2O3)
Chrome tanning
MgO/NaHCO3 6-8
Reaction salts
NaHCO3/ HCOONa 6-8
Chrome extract 10-13
(25% Cr2O3)
Post tanning 8-14 Organic tannins 15-20
Fat liquors 12-15
Dyestuffs 3-4
Acids 3-4
Grain leather crust 170-190
finishing 2-4
Solvent 25
Source: Comprehensive Industry Document on Tanneries (COINDS), CPCB, 2010
 During the beam–house operations, a huge quantity of water is used in
proportion to the weight of the pelts and this contributes immensely to the
pollution load from the tannery. Comparatively, the BOD and COD loads are 50–
70% of the total load from a tannery wastewater while total solids (TS) (lime
sludge, fleshings and hair) load accounts for 15–20% (Ramasami and Prasad
1991). Post tanning activities are mechanical operations (e.g. sammying,
splitting, shaving and trimming), wet work, drying and finishing. These
operations will yield a combination of solid wastes, squeezed-out water and
unfixed tanning chemicals with the finishing process producing mostly air
emission of solvents (UNEP 1994).

Though the Indian leather industry has been able to surmount many of
the challenges with huge investment on pollution control, there are still three
lingering problems viz., compliance to total dissolved solids (TDS) norm of 2100
mg/L in treated wastewaters, compliance with zero liquid discharge (ZLD)
requirement of regulatory authorities and securitization of solid waste generated
(Rajamani 2007). The tannery sector in India is being compelled to comply with
rigorous norms for TDS (Ramasami et al 1999). The threat of salt burden in land
locked areas can lead to the leather sector being phased out of such areas. The
tannery clusters may need to consider various options to reduce salt burden. It
has been estimated that the salt burden on soil and water on account of tanning
activity is about 0.5 million tonnes in terms of neutral salts (Ramanujam and
Mariappan 1999). Hence, the leather industry is under close scrutiny of the
environmentalists.
1.5.1 Characteristics of Composite Wastewater

For (i) raw to semi-finish, (ii) semi-finish to finished leather and (iii)
raw to finished leather, the characteristics of composite wastewater are presented
Table 1.5.

Table 1.5 Characteristics of Composite Tannery Wastewater

Raw to Semi-Finish Raw to

Description
Semi-Finish to Finish Finish
Wastewater generation (m3/ tonne
of raw hides/ skins processed) 30 20 50
Composite Wastewater Characteristics
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD, mg/L) 1500 - 1800 800- 1000 1300-1500
Chemical Oxygen Demand
(COD, mg/L) 4000 - 5000 3000 - 4000 3000- 4000
Suspended Solids
(SS, mg/L) 2500-3500 1000-2000 3200-4200

Source: Comprehensive Industry Document on Tanneries (COINDS), CPCB, 2010

SOLID WASTE GENERATION

Sources of Solid Waste Generation

With the help of process flow diagrams, sources of solid waste

generated during the processing of raw hides/skins into finished leather using
chrome tanning process and vegetable tanning process are presented in
Figures 1.4 and 1.5.
 Hide, salt, water
Raw hides Raw hide trimmings

Dusting Dusted sa lt
Hide, salt, water,
biocides, Soaking

Hide, Water, Liming Lime sludge and ha ir pulp

Lime, Sodium (Pits or Paddle)

Reliming
(Paddle or Drums)

FLESHINGS (used as substrate

Fleshing
Hide, Water in the present study)

Trimming Pelt trimmings

Hide, Water

Hide, Water, ammonium Deliming

salts, Bating Enzymes

Pickling
Hide, Water, Sulfuric acid

Chrome tanning
Hide, Water, BCS (wet blue)
sodium salts
Splitting Splits

Shaving Chrome shavings

Hide(wet blue), Retanning, Dyeing and

Fat liquoring
Water, Dyes, Fat

Finished lea ther trimmings

Finishing

Figure 1.4 Solid Wastes Generated during Processing of Raw Hides /

Skins into Finished Leather (Chrome Tanning)
(Source: Comprehensive Industry Document on Tanneries (COINDS),
CPCB, 2010)
 Hide, salt, water Raw hides Raw hide trimmings

Dusting Dusted salt

Hide, salt, water,
biocides, Enzymes Soaking

Hide, Water, Lime, Sodium

Liming Lime sludge & hair pulp
Sulphide

Fleshing FLESHINGS (used as

Hide, Water
substrate in the present study

Hide, Water, ammonium salts, Deliming

Bating Enzymes

Vegetable tanning (pits) Tanning sludge, bark, nuts

Veg. tanned hide, Water,
Bark, nuts

Finishing Finished leather Trimmings

Figure 1.5 Solid Wastes Generated during Processing of Raw Hides/ Skins
into Finished Leather (Vegetable Tanning)
(Source: Comprehensive Industry Document on Tanneries (COINDS),
CPCB, 2010)

Solid waste generated during vegetable tanning process is about 15 to

20 % less than that for the chrome tanning process since no splitting operation
will be carried out and also the processed leather is mostly used as soles for
shoes in case of vegetable tanning process.

Quantity of Solid Waste Generation

Nearly 2000 tanneries are located throughout India with a total

processing capacity of 700,000 tonnes of hides/skins per annum. Out of 2000
tanneries, only 5 % of tanneries adopt vegetable tanning process and remaining
95% of tanneries adopt chrome tanning. Therefore, the problem of solid wastes
generation in reality refers to the chrome tanning operations and this research
work also addresses only this problem. In chrome tanning’s, in the processing of
one tonne of raw hides/skins into finished leather, around 500- 600 kg of process
solid waste will be generated. In the waste so generated, 70-230 kg will be
fleshings (Sundar et al 2010). These fleshings were used in industries for glue
manufacturing until recently but now they are used in a very limited scale since
other types of glues are available. Thus the disposal of fleshings has become a
major environmental concern. Also, fleshings by themselves are not amenable
for digestion as a stand-alone substrate. The details of solid waste generation
during processing one tonne of raw hides/skins into finished leather in chrome
tanning are presented in Table 1. 6.

Table 1.6 Quantity of Solid Waste Generation

Sl. Process Average Solid Waste Total Solid Waste

No. generation (kg) per Generation (tonnes
tonne of raw hides/ per annum) in
skins processed India
Chrome Tanning Process
a Raw trimming 120 84000
b Fleshings 150 105000
c Tanned splits 115 80500
d Trimming + Shavings 100 70000
(after chrome tanning)
e Buffing dust 2 1400
f Finished Trimmings 32 22400
Total 519 363300
 The explanations for the types of solid wastes generation are presented
below:

Raw Trimmings are the collagenous wastes generated before pre-tanning

operations when the hides and skins are sized for the convenience of machinery
operations.

Fleshings and non-tanned split are putrescible material consisting of protein and
fat.

Tanned Splits can be generated after liming or after tanning operations. The
flesh side of the splitting also referred to as the split, can be used to make leather
without a grain.

Trimmings are the collagenous wastes generated during finishing operations of

leathering processing to cut into leather a required size.

Shavings which are generated in leveling the surface of the leather are smaller
pieces than splits. Splits from tanned leather, shavings and dust from milling
buffing contain the tanning chemicals. Any further re-use and treatment depends
on the particular chemical composition.

Buffing Dust can be generated during finishing operations of leathering

processing.

REUSE AND DISPOSAL OF THE SOLID WASTES

The present modes of reuse and disposal of solid wastes are given in
Table 1. 7.
 Table 1.7 Reuse and Disposal Options for the Solid Wastes

Sl.No. Nature of the solid Reuse and Disposal Options

waste
1 Fleshing process solid Very limited quantity is used for glue
waste manufacturing. Major portion is dumped in
low lying areas.
2 Dusted salt Mostly dumped in low lying areas
3 Raw trimmings Sold to small tanneries /dumped in low lying
areas
4 Shaving Limited quantity is used for leather board
manufacturing. Major portion is dumped in
low lying areas
5 Buffing dust Dumped in low lying areas
6 Finished leather Card board, carpet manufacturing, gift
trimmings articles etc.
Source: Comprehensive Industry Document on Tanneries (COINDS), CPCB, 2010

Factors Affecting the Solid Wastes Generation

The quantity of solid waste generated in tanneries depends upon the

following factors:

a. Type of raw material used for processing (i.e. cow, buffalo

hides, sheep and goat skins etc).

b. Quality of raw material used (i.e. wet salted, dry salted, semi
finished etc).

c. Type of process adopted (i.e. vegetable tanning, chrome tanning

etc).
 d. Way of operation (pit tanning or drum tanning).

e. Quantity and quality of chemicals used (i.e. lime, barks and nuts
for vegetable tanning etc).

f. Utilization of solid wastes. (i.e. source buy back system of raw

hide trimmings by the supplier, supply of used barks and lime
to workers etc).

g. The level of implementation of waste minimization measures

Sludge Generation from Effluent Treatment Plants

Wastewater treatment and management is an important and increasing

concern in India. The total wastewater discharge from tanneries is about 175,000
m3/day in India. In India there are nearly 200 individual Effluent Treatment
Plants (ETPs) and 17 Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) exclusively
used for treatment of tannery wastewater. The treatment options considered for
treatment of tannery effluents are:

Option I: Primary treatment (Equalization and settling) followed by two

stage aerobic treatment (Activated Sludge Process)

Option II: Primary treatment (Equalization and Settling) followed by anoxic/

anaerobic treatment followed by aerobic treatment

A typical process flow diagram for treatment of tannery wastewater is

presented in Figure 1.6.
 EQUALISATION POLY
PRIMARY
COARSE TANK
ELECTROLITE CLARIFIER
SCREEN
ALUM LIME

COMPOSITE
TANNERY
WASTEWATER
FLASH
MIXER FLOCCULATOR

RETURN SLUDGE SLUDGE

SLUDGE
HOLDING
TANK

TREATED
TANNERY
WASTEWATER

ANOXIC TANK BLOWER

SECONDARY
HOUSE
CLARIFIER

AERATION TANK MECHANICAL

SLUDGE DRYING BEDS DEWATERING
(for emergency) SYSTEM

FILTRATE

Figure 1.6 A Typical Process Flow Diagram for Treatment of Tannery Wastewater
(Source: Comprehensive Industry Document on Tanneries (COINDS), CPCB, 2010)
18
 19

During the treatment of tannery wastewater, primary sludge will be

generated from primary clarifiers and secondary sludge will be generated
from biological treatment units. The quantity of primary and secondary
sludges generated during treatment of tannery wastewater generated from
various stages of leather processing i.e. raw to semi-finish, semi-finish to
finished leather and raw to finished leather are presented in Table 1.8

Table 1.8 Quantity of Primary and Secondary Sludge Generation for

Processing One Tonne of Raw Hides/Skins into Finished
Leather

Raw to
Semi-finish to Raw to
Description Semi-
Finished Finished
finish
Primary sludge generation 60 - 90 10 - 30 140-190
(range in kg)
Secondary sludge generation 28-33 16-19 39-46
(range in kg)
Total sludge production ( kg) 88-123 26-49 179-236

Overall sludge generation during the treatment of tannery

wastewater will be in the range of 18200 to 165200 tonnes per annum in
India. At present, the sludge is stored within the premises of the common
effluent treatment plants (CETPs) except in Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu, as
per directions of Honorable Supreme Court, secured landfill facilities have
been created for disposal of primary sludge generated from the treatment of
tannery wastewater. The disposal of fleshings and the secondary sludge into
the landfill is not encouraged due to their unstable conditions. Hence, the
management of the fleshings and the secondary sludge is a challenge for
Indian tanning industry. A comparison of conventional and modern
tanning process, treatment of tannery wastewater and tannery wastes are
given in Table 1.9.
Table 1.9 A comparison of Conventional and Modern Tanning
Process, Treatment of Tannery Wastewater and Tannery
Wastes

Sl.No. Description Conventional Modern Process

Process
1. Tanning Process
a Soaking Pits, Drums Drums
b Liming Pits, Drums Pits, Drums
c Fleshing Manual or Mechanical
Mechanical
d Deliming Pits, Drums Drums
e Pickling Pits, Drums Drums
f Chrome Tanning Drums Drums
g Rechroming Drums Drums
h Dyeing and Fat Drums Drums
Liquoring
i Finishing Manual or Machines Manual or Machines
2. Tannery Screen cum Screen cum Collection
Wastewater Collection Tank, Tank, Equalization Tank,
Treatment Equalization Tank, Flash Mixer, Primary
Flash Mixer, Primary Clarifier, Membrane
Clarifier, Activated Bioreactor, Cartridge Filter,
Sludge Process, Nano Filtration, Reverse
Secondary Clarifier, Osmosis
Pressure Sand Filters,
Activated Carbon
Filters
3 Tannery Solid
Waste Management
a Fleshing process Very limited quantity Composting,
solid waste is used for glue Anaerobic Digestion
manufacturing. Major
portion is dumped in
low lying areas.
b Dusted salt Mostly dumped in Salt less curing
low lying areas
c Raw trimmings Sold to small
tanneries /dumped in
low lying areas
d Shaving Limited quantity is Leather Board
used for leather board Manufacturing
manufacturing. Major
portion is dumped in
low lying areas
e Buffing dust Dumped in low lying
areas
f Finished leather Card board, carpet Card board, carpet
trimmings manufacturing, gift manufacturing, gift articles
articles etc. etc.
Source: Comprehensive Industry Document on Tanneries (COINDS), CPCB, 2010
CONCLUSION

Today the tanneries face the twin problem of managing process

solid waste and ETP/ CETP sludge. The majority of tanneries in India fall
under small and medium scale enterprises with a minimum processing
capacity in the range of 2 to 3 tonnes per day. Considering the mean
processing capacity as 2.5 tonnes per day, the process solid waste generated
will be around 1300 kg/day. In this, fleshings will account for 375 kg.
Similarly, the ETP/CETP sludge generated will be around 500 kg/day.

Considering the tannery will be in operation for a period of 200

days per annum based on availability of raw materials, the annual solid wastes
generation i.e. fleshings and ETP/CETP sludge will be 75 and 100 tonnes
respectively. It means every tannery faces this enormous problem of
managing the disposal of 75 tonnes of fleshings and 100 tonnes of sludge
annually. At present, each tannery is spending around Rs.700 to Rs.750 per
tonne for disposal of sludge into the secured landfill facility which includes
transportation of sludge from tannery to the secured landfill facility, loading
and unloading.

As already stated, fleshings pose serious environmental threat.

There is no reuse potential and disposal appears to be the only option
available. Therefore, any option available to reduce the quantum of fleshings
waste to be managed is a welcome message. Likewise, the treatment of
ETP/CETP sludge in a sludge digester demands huge investment cost. The
technical options to economize on the design and operation of sludge digester
will be of help to the tanners. Keeping these two specific needs, this research
work has been planned.