Managing post-industrial textile waste: current status and prospects for Sri Lanka
Geetha Dissanayake, Dakshitha Weerasinghe
Abstract
Post-industrial textile waste has been identified as a growing crisis in the developing world. Being a leading apparel manufacturing hub, post-industrial textile waste in Sri Lanka creates severe environmental challenges due to massive quantities of synthetic raw materials being used, and the absence of proper waste management systems. This study employed a survey and interviews to investigate the current status of post-industrial textile waste in the Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing industry and the management attitudes towards implementing sustainable waste management strategies. Results indicate that a manufacturing firm generates 10–20 tons of post-industrial textile waste per month, and the preferred disposal route is incineration, followed by landfilling. Statistical analysis of the questionnaire results indicates the lack of management initiatives taken in developing waste management strategies. New regulations to control landfilling are imminently necessary to minimize environmental impacts. Global fashion retailers must extend their environmental responsibility to support manufacturing firms to implement effective waste management systems by providing much needed technology and financial support.