Tannery solid waste generation trend and sustainable management techniques for commercialization

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Waste Management
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Global leather consumption drives significant tannery solid waste (TSW) generation, with production increasingly concentrated in Asia.
• Developing countries, like Bangladesh, face severe environmental and health risks due to inadequate TSW treatment, despite low global contribution.
• Current TSW management faces challenges with inefficient disposal and limited scalability of conventional dechroming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the TSW generation scenario in Bangladesh.
• To review sustainable management and valorization approaches for TSW.
• To propose a circular economy model for TSW management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of TSW generation and management practices.
• Analysis of emerging valorization technologies (biodiesel, anaerobic co-digestion, gasification, pyrolysis, immobilization).
• Development of a hypothetical circular economy model for TSW.

Main Results:

• TSW generation has increased over 100-fold in six decades.
• Enzyme-assisted anaerobic co-digestion achieved 81% biogas yield.
• Biodiesel production, low-temperature gasification, pyrolysis, and immobilization show promise for TSW valorization.
• A circular economy model integrating technology and socio-economic factors was proposed.

Conclusions:

• Emerging valorization techniques offer sustainable and viable alternatives to conventional TSW management.
• A circular economy framework, supported by policy reform and stakeholder collaboration, is crucial for sustainable TSW management.
• The proposed framework aligns with SDGs 3, 7, and 15, promoting safer and globally certified tannery practices.