Waste management in leather industry

In this, thesis, the Works and regulation in the world and Turkey about waste of Leather Industry have been scrutinized and comparisons and evaluations were made by being predicated on 2 leather facilities. The facilities are Company A operating in the Menemen Free Leather Zone and Company B operating in Torbalı. The processes followed from raw material or semi- finished form of material, the waste created during the operation process, the recovery processes subjected to the waste and the results are examined separately.In both facilities, Chrome Tanning Process, the most widespread technique in the world, is used. In Company A, Vegetal Tanning is also used. In Company B only small cattle leather is used while in Company B both small cattle and great cattle leather is processed.The trim waste in Company A is used as raw material in subsidary companies. The trim and shave waste of the Company B is also used and provide raw materials for various organizations. Thus, some part of the present waste is revaluated and waste amount is decreased in this manner.Due to the pre- waste treatment, the harm given to nature could be minimized. It is examined that there is no pre- treatment facility in Company A but wastewater is transferred to the pre- treatment facility that exists in the region, through 3 separate channels. There is pre- treatment facility in Company B. The wastewater disposed in the sewer system by both facilities are up to standards of Regulation on Water Pollution Control. The solid waste of the Company A is collected by IDESBAS regularly. The solids waste of Company B is eliminated on site.There is no cleaner- cut EU decision about leather waste. The regulation on Leather waste in Turkey were also scrutinized.