Positive environmental management via waste minimization in a textile washing facility.

Abstract

Existing and developing national environment protection regulations have made it mandatory for all industries to establish a treatment system for wastewater to bring down all toxic, hazardous and offensive components to specified levels before releasing to the environment. The paper looks at the garment washing industry in the textile sector. The industry sector today uses significant quantities of water and none of the factories utilise waste minimisation nor water recycling techniques. A washing plant is analysed with the objective of promoting water recycling and waste minimisation practices. Initially typical practices are given, followed by a water balance for the system. Results of the water audit presented here forms the first essential element of the waste minimisation process. The method suggested look at the iron removal process to utilise ground water and then (eliminating water transport needs) to advance filtration to make recycling feasible. Iron is the key limiting factor in utilising the available ground water supply. These steps would preserve the water resource and would eliminate the current wasteful practices adopted by the industry.