Waste Generation and Characteristics in Sri Lankan Textile and Apparel Sector: Case Study of the Biyagama Industrial Export Processing Zone, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The main goal of the study was to look at the properties of waste, treatment options, and disposal techniques. Furthermore, waste circulation variables in the textile and apparel sectors in Sri Lanka’s Biyagama Industrial Processing Zone were calculated. The types, volumes, and per capita waste generation of ten industries were analyzed, as well as waste management activities such as trash minimization, handling, storing, recirculation, and disposal. The information was gathered using questionnaires, interviews, and field observations. According to the findings, the total industrial waste generation rate was 13792.5 tonnes per year, with 5926 tonnes per year designated as hazardous waste materials (42.9%). Furthermore, the waste generation rate per capita was 0.93 kg. The waste circulation factor was 0.38, according to the findings. The findings of the study highlight the necessity for integrated waste management methods in the textile and apparel industries.

Keywords

• industrial waste, waste disposal, waste treatment, textile and apparel sector