Tanning and Leather Finishing Related Environmental Concerns

Submitted to: Dr Hanif

Industrial Chemistry 2

Submitted By: Breera Mehmood

Saima Arshad

Areej Riaz

MPhil Environmental Sciences

Dated: 26th February, 2010

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sr. No.

CHAPTERS Pg no

1. Introduction 32. Manufacturing Process 3

2.1 Hide and skin storage and beamhouse operations 32.2 Soaking 32.3 Liming 32.4 De-liming 42.5 Bating 42.6 Degreasing 42.7 Pickling 52.8 Pretanning 52.9 Chroming 5

2.10 Draining, samming and setting 52.11 Splitting 62.12 Shaving 62.14 Fatliquoring 72.15 Drying 72.16 Finishing 72.17 Measurement and Packing 82.18 Process Flow Diagram of a typical chrome Tannery 92.19 Mass Balance in Leather Processing 10

3. Waste Production from Tanneries and their controls

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3.1 Air Emissions 113.2 Process Liquid and Solid Wastes 12

3.2.1 Solid Waste in Tanneries and its key characteristics 133.2.2 Characteristics of wastewater discharged at each

manufacturing step in tannery14

3.2.3 Pollution Levels in Tannery Effluents 143.3 Wastes produced at each step of manufacturing at tannery 15

4. Pakistan's Leather Industry 165. Environmental Management Plan for a typical tannery 176. Demolition Plan 19

6.1 Immediate Actions 196.2 Entire Site 19

7. Social Action Plan 218. References 23

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1.IntroductionTanning and leather finishing facilities generally convert raw hides and / or skins into leather, which is then finished and used to manufacture a wide range of products. Tanning is the process used to stabilizing the raw hide or skin into leather, a non-putrescible product. Tanning involves a complex combination of mechanical and chemical processes. The heart of the process is the tanning operation itself in which organic or inorganic materials become chemically bound to the protein structure of the hide and preserve it from deterioration. The substances generally used to accomplish the tanning process are chromium or extracts from bark of trees, such as chestnut.

2. Manufacturing process:

Major steps of manufacturing process are described as under:

2.1 Hide and skin storage and beamhouse operations:

Raw hides and skins are typically procured from the hide and skin markets or directly from the abattoirs (slaughterhouses), and delivered to the tanneries or fellmongeries (facilities that treat skins and hides, principally sheep skins, before tanning). At the tannery / fellmongery, hides and skins are preliminarily sorted, trimmed, cured (to prevent putrefaction), and stored.

Curing methods for long-term preservation (up to six months) include salting, brining, drying, or dry salting. Short-term preservation (typically two to five days) involves cooling using crushed ice, or refrigerated storage, in addition to use of biocides. Although curing is often conducted in the abattoir, the process may be repeated in the tannery for longer and more efficient storage. Hides and skins are generally stored on pallets in ventilated or air conditioned areas. From storage, the hides and skins are taken to the beamhouse.

Processes typically carried out in the beamhouse of a tannery include:

2.2 Soaking:

Soaking allows hides and skins to reabsorb any lost water and to clean interfibrillary material. The soak bath is often changed every 8 hours to prevent bacterial growth. Soaking additives include surfactants, enzyme preparations, bactericides, and alkali products.

2.3 Liming:

Dehairing and liming of hides is undertaken to remove hair, interfibrillary components, and epidermis, and to open up the fiber structure. These processes are carried out in vessels (e.g. drums, paddles [a vat with a paddlewheel agitator], mixers, or pits). Dehairing involves the use of chemical and mechanical treatment, with or without hair destruction. Elimination of keratinous material (e.g. hair, hair roots, epidermis) and fats from the pelts involves the use of inorganic sulfides (NaHS or Na2S) and lime

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treatment. Treatment with organic compounds such as mercaptans or sodium thioglycolate in combination with strong alkali and amino compounds is an alternative to sulfide treatment. Enzymatic preparations can be added to enhance dehairing and they are considered a cleaner technology when compared with the conventional dehairing-liming process.

2.4 De-liming:

Deliming involves the removal of residual lime from the pelts and preparing the pelts for bating. The conventional process involves gradually lowering pH through washing and addition of deliming chemicals ( e.g. ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4], ammonium chloride [NH4Cl], sodium bisulfite [NaHSO3], among others); an increase in temperature; and, finally, the removal of residual chemicals and degraded skin components. Alternative processes include carbon dioxide (CO2) deliming, or the use of ammonium-free deliming agents (e.g. weak acids or esters) which can totally or partially replace ammonium saltsused for conventional deliming. For thicker pelts, the float temperature is increased (up to 35°C), the process duration is increased, and small amounts of deliming auxiliaries are added.Generally, deliming is performed in processing vessels (e.g.drums, mixers, or paddles).

2.5 Bating:Bating is a partial degradation of non-collagenic proteins, achieved by enzymatic preparations, which improves the grain of the hide and the subsequent run and stretch of the leather.

2.6 Degreasing:

This is the elimination of excess grease from fatty skins. Three different methods commonly used for degreasing include degreasing in aqueous medium with nonionic surfactant and degreasing agents; degreasing in aqueous medium with organic solvents, nonionic surfactants, and degreasing agents; and degreasing in an organic solvent medium.

Degreasing as done typically in Paksitan

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2.7 Pickling:

Pickling is conducted to lower the pH of the pelt before mineral tanning and some organic tanning (e.g. chrome tanning, gluterdialdehyde tanning, vegetable tanning, resins and synthetic tanning). Very often tanning is carried out in the pickle liquor. Pickled pelts can be traded and contain fungicides to protect them from mold growth during storage. Pickling floats (the aqueous liquor in which the pickling process is performed) are typically characterized by high salt concentrations, which can be reduced by using acids that lessen the water uptake of the skins (e.g. non-swelling acids, typically aromatic sulfonic acids). 2.8 Pretanning:

In this process the physical and chemical characteristics of the leather is changed thereby, improving the leather quality, particularly with regard to grain tightness, and chrome uptake, thus reducing the input of chrome. Pretanning agents include aluminum salts, aluminum combined with polyacrylates, glutaraldehyde derivatives, syntans, titanium oxide and salts, or colloidal silica.

2.9 Chroming:

Tanning allows stabilization of the collagen fiber through a cross-linking action. The tanned hides and skins are tradable intermediate products (wet-blue). Tanning agents can be categorized in three main groups namely mineral (chrome) tanning agents; vegetable tanning agents; and alternative tanning agents (e.g. syntans, aldehydes, and oil tanning agents). About 90 percent of leathers are tanned with salts of chromium (in its trivalent form), especially chromium (III) sulfate. The vegetable tanning process is not an alternative to the chrome tanning process, as the two processes produce differentproducts. Vegetable tanning produces relatively dense, pale brown leather that tends to darken on exposure to natural light. Vegetable tanning is frequently used to produce sole leather, belts, and other leather goods. Unless specifically treated, however, vegetable tanned leathers have low hydrothermal stability, limited water resistance, and are hydrophilic. Recovery of vegetable tanning floats is generally conducted using ultrafiltration. Tanning with organic tanning agents, using polymers or condensed plant polyphenols with aldehydic cross-linkers, can organic-tanned leather usually is more filled (e.g. leather with interstices filled with a filler material) and hydrophilic than chrome-tanned leather. Semi-metal tanning may also produce chrome-free leather, with equally high hydrothermal stability. This tanningprocess is carried out with a combination of metal salts, preferably but not exclusively aluminum (III), and a plant polyphenol containing pyrogallol groups, often in the form of hydrolysable tannins.

Drums used for liming, tanning and pickling purposes.

2.10 Draining, samming and setting:

After tanning, leathers are drained, rinsed, and either hung up to age or unloaded into boxes and subsequently sammed to reduce the moisture content before further mechanical action. Setting (working over the grain surface of wet leather to remove excess water, to eliminate wrinkles and granulations, to give the leather a good pattern and to work out stresses so that the leather lies flat) may be carried out.

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2.11 Splitting:

The function of the splitting operation is to cut through skins / hides or leathers at a set thickness. If the hide / skin are sufficiently thick, splitting can yield a grain split and a flesh split that may both be processed into finished leather. Although splitting can be performed before tanning, after tanning, or after drying, it is usually performed after tanning.

Splitting Machine

2.12 Shaving

Shaving is undertaken to achieve an even thickness throughout tanned or crusted leather. Shaving is carried out when splitting is not possible or when minor adjustments to the thickness are required.

Pile of leather shavings

2.13 Dyeing:

Dyeing is performed to produce colors in hides / skins. Typical dyestuffs include water-based acid dyes. Basic and reactive dyes are less commonly used. A wide range of dyestuff is available with different characteristics and physico-chemical resistances (e.g. to light, PVC migration, sweat migration, among others).

Dyeing Machines enclosed in a wall.

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2.14 Fatliquoring:

Fatliquoring is the process by which leathers are lubricated to achieve product-specific characteristics and to reestablish the fat content lost in the previous procedures. The oils used may be of animal or vegetable origin, or may be synthetic products based on mineral oils. Stuffing is an old technique used mainly for heavier vegetable-tanned leather. Sammed leathers are treated in a drum with a mixture of molten fat. The retanned, dyed, and fatliquored leathers are then acidified by formic acid for fixation and usually washed before being aged to allow the fat to migrate from the surface to the inside of the pelt. 2. 15 Drying: The objective of drying is to dry the leather while optimizing leather quality. Drying techniques include samming, setting, centrifuging, hang drying, vacuum drying, toggle drying ( leather dried while held under tension on frames using toggles), paste drying (drying method used for upper leather with corrected grain), and over drying. Samming and setting are used to reduce the moisture content mechanically before implementing another drying technique. After drying, the leather may be referred to as ‘crust’, which is a tradable and storable intermediate product.

Leather hanged to dry them

2.16 Finishing:

Finishing operations enhance the appearance of the leather and provide the performance characteristics expected in the finished leather with respect to color, gloss, feel, flex, and adhesion as well as other properties including stretch-ability, break, light and perspiration fastness, water vapor permeability, and water resistance. Finishing operations can be divided into mechanical finishing processes and surface coat applications. A wide range of process exit for both types of finishing, including, but not limited to polishing, and spray coating (spraying the finishing material with pressurized air in spray cabinets).

Finished texture on Leather

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Flow diagram of finishing process

2.17 Measurement and Packing:

Finished leather is measured with computerized measuring machine and then packed for sale / marketing.

Packed Leather ready to be transported.

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Raw Hide Finished Leather

2.18 Process Flow Diagram of a typical chrome Tannery

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2.19 Mass Balance in Leather Processing:

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3. Waste Production from Tanneries and their controlsWastes associated with tanning and leather finishing include the following:

Air Emissions Wastewater Solid waste Hazardous materials Odour

Leather tanneries in Pakistan produce all three categories of waste: wastewater, solid waste and air emissions. However, wastewater is by far the most important environmental challenge being faced by Pakistan's tanneries.

3.1 Air Emissions:There are two sources of air pollution from tanneries. The first relates to emissions from generators (diesel-based and operated only during power breakdowns) and from boilers. Ammonia emission during processing and washing of drums, though intermittent but important, has adverse effects on workers health. Hydrogen sulphide emission during mixing of acid and alkaline wastewater in drain is also a serious health hazardous. Segregated discharge of acidic and alkaline effluent can help to avoid the hydrogen sulphide gas emission. Typical pollutants (either solid or gaseous) from a tannery include chlorine, formaldehyde, sulfuric acid, glycol ether EB, glycol ether PMA, methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene, xylol, phosphoric acid, methanol, manganese sulfate, chromium III, ethylene glycol, lead, copper, and zinc.

Emissions of Toxic Air Pollutants

From a Typical Tannery

Emission Point

Pollutants Emission Rate kg/hr

Control Methods

Solvent Receiving Methyl Ethyl Ketone Methyl Isobutyl Ketone Toluene Xylol

22.58 1.67 10.04 1.17

Incineration Process

Modification (e.g., water-based

process instead of solvent-

based process)

Mixing Vault Methyl Ethyl Ketone

0.52

Supply Drum Methyl Ethyl Ketone

0.52

Spray Chamber Diacetone Alcohol Glycol Ether EB Glycol Ether PMA Methyl Ethyl Ketone Methyl Isobutyl

1.89 11.85 7.6 75.72 59.05 95.78

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Ketone Toluene Xylol

33.38

Dryer Diacetone Alcohol Glycol Ether EB Glycol Ether PMA Methyl Ethyl Ketone Methyl Isobutyl Ketone Toluene Xylol

1.89 11.85 7.6 75.72 59.05 95.78 33.38

Receiving Recycled Solvents

Acetone Methyl Ethyl Ketone Toluene

0.61 0.98 0.61

Cleaning Operation Less than 1 kg/hr of each pollutant

Waste Solvent Storage

Less than 1 kg/hr of each pollutant

Air emissions at each manufacturing step at tannery:

Process-step Air pollutants kg/ton raw hide

Unhairing/liming H2S

Deliming/Bating NH3

Finishing solvents, formaldehyde 25*

heating with gas CO 0.033*

CO2 190*

NO2 0.17*

3.2 Process Liquid and Solid Wastes:

Hair, offcuts, sludge are the main types of solid waste. Solids are usually disposed of to a landfill site. Dewatered sludges from tanneries can also be disposed of to controlled landfills without significant environmental problems being incurred. Tanning sludges should immediately be covered with inert material to avoid odour generation and insect infestation.

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Landfills which receive other industrial residues, particularly acidic wastes, may not be suitable for receiving tannery wastes. Toxic hydrogen sulphide may be liberated and chromium maybecome soluble and hence escape to groundwater via leachate seepage.

Tannery sludges of organic composition, if free of chrome and sulphides, can have some value as a soil conditioner.

Waste should not be stored too long on site due to the nuisance effect of smells.

Two types of solid wastes (tanned and untanned) are generated from leather production processes. Solid waste include dusted curing salts, raw trimmings, wet trimmings, dry trimmings, wet shavings, dry shavings, buffing, and packaging material. It is estimated that for a tannery averaging 10,000 kilograms of skins per day, a total of some 5,500 kilograms of solid waste would be produced perday. Pieces of leather (containing 10 to 50% moisture) in various stages of processing, and wastewater treatment sludges constitute the bulk of the process solid waste from tanneries. In order to produce the quality products required by leather consuming industries, tanneries trim off inferior portions of hides at many steps in processing. Smaller pieces of leather wastes are produced in shaving and buffing operations. Approximately 35% of all tannery solid waste is trimmings and shavings of various types. Another source of tannery wastes is the finishing department. Finishes are sprayed or rolled onto leather and the residue is considered to be a solid waste since it is land disposed. Finish residues are usually slurries containing 10 to 50% solids. Waste finishes account for about 2% of tannery solid waste. Wastewater treatment is the single largest source of process solid waste. Almost all tanneries screen their wastewater. Direct dischargers and some discharging wastewater into municipal sewers have some form of primary or secondary treatment (only direct dischargers use secondary treatment). The screenings and sludges from these operations contain lime, chromium compounds, pieces of leather, hair, and other protein-like substances which are land disposed. Wastewater screenings and sludge account for about 60% of tannery solid waste. Floor sweepings are the final source of process solid waste. These include twine used to tie bundles of hides, salt used to preserve the hides prior to handling, and general plant debris. Approximately 3% of tannery solid waste is floor sweepings.

Hazardous Wastes From a Typical

Tannery Waste Source

Pollutant Concentration Rangea

(wet weight in mg/kg) Disposal Method

Chrome trimmings & Shavings

Cr+3 2,200 - 21,000 Landfill Dewater sludge; all waste disposed in

certified hazardouswaste disposal facility

Landfill with leachate collection

Chrome fleshings Cr+3 4,000

Unfinished chrome leather trim

Cr+3

Cu Pb Zn

4,600 - 37,000 2.3 - 468 2.5 - 476 9.1 - 156

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Buffing dust Cr+3

Cu Pb Zn

19 - 22,000 29 - 1,900

2 - 924 160

Finishing residues Cr+3

Cu Pb Zn

0.45 - 12,000 0.35 - 208

2.5 - 69,200 14 - 876

Finished leather trim Cr+3

Pb 1,600 - 41,000

100 - 3,300

Sewer screenings Cr+3

Pb Zn

0.27 - 14,000 2 - 110 35 - 128

Wastewater treatment residues (sludges)

Cr+3

Cu Pb Zn

0.33 - 19,400 0.12 - 8,400 0.75 - 240 1.2 - 147

3.2.1 Solid Waste in Tanneries and its key characteristics

Type ofSolidWaste

Rate of Generation

Characteristicsof

Solid Waste

Comments

DustedSalt

0.1kg/skin

Contains around120 gm/kg ofmoisture, 120gm/kg of volatilematter, 450 gm/kg

of salt.

Contaminated with blood, hair, dirt and bacteria. Partlyreused in curing and the rest is indiscriminately dumpedin undeveloped lands near the tanneries.

RawTrimming

0.024kg/skin

Proteins The skins are trimmed (especially at legs, belley, neck, and tail parts) in order to give it a smooth shape. The trimmings are usually sold to soap and poultry feed makers. It is usually used for glue and poultry feed production.

Fleshing 0.25kg/skin

Contains around240 gm/kg of proteins, 200 gm/kg of fats, 3 gm/kg of lime, 2 gm/kg of sulphide.

This is the flesh material of limed skins. It is usually sold to soap and poultry feed makers.

WetTrimming/WetShaving

0.14kg/skin

Contains around 240 gm/kg of proteins, 30 gm/kg of fats, 15 gm/kg of chromium oxide.

After chrome tanning, skins or split hides are shaved to proper thickness. This operation produces solid waste containing chrome. Secondary users, including poultryfeed makers, usually collect these shavings from the tanners.

DryTrimming/DryShaving/BuffingDust

0.06kg/skin

Contains around300 gm/kg of proteins, 130 gm/kg of fats, 30 gm/kg of chromium oxide

Secondary users, including poultry feed makers, collect cuttings and dry trimmings of the leather from the tanners.

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AssortedRefuse

Noconsistentquantity

Primarily cartons,bags, drums, etc.

This is normally sold separately (in bulk) in the retailmarket.

3.2.2 Characteristics of wastewater discharged at each manufacturing step in tannery:

Process step Amount of water pH COD NKj Cr

(m3/ton) - kg COD/m3 kg N/m3 kg Cr/m3

Pretanning:

Soaking 4-6 6-9 30-40 1-1.5 -

Unhairing, liming 5-9 12-13 40-60 3-5 -

Fleshing 1-3 - - - -

Deliming, bating 5-7 8.5-9 5-8 3.5-4 -

Tanning:

Chrome tanning 0.5-1 3.8-4 2-3 0.3-0.6 0.5-5

Pressing 0.4-0.6 3.6-4.5 1.2-1.8 0.11-0.22 0.5-5

Neutralisation 1-1.5 4.5-4.7 2.5-3 0.5-0.8 0-1.0

Painting, fatting 3-4.5 3.8-4.5 5-6 0.2-0.3 0-5.0

Finishing:

Drying 3-6

Finishing 1-2

Cleaning 5

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3.2.3 Pollution Levels in Tannery Effluents:

Parameters

Raw sheep & goat skins-

Finished leather

Raw calf hides-

Finished leather

Wet Blue (sheep & goat skins)-

Finished leather

NEQS

(mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) mg/l

pH 9.33-9.88 7.33-7.67 3.52-3.55 6-10

BOD5 11050-14827 840-1740 714-1346 80

COD 41300-43000 1000-2680 2000-3500 150

Sulphate as SO4 at 0 time settling

1818-3146 800-860 5480-6480 600

Sulphate as S at 0 time settling

288-292 1.2-2.6 Nil 1.0

Chromium Cr at 0 time settling

64-133.3 41 160-194 1.0

Suspended solids at 0 time settling

4270-4650 820-1920 1972-6620 150

3.3 Wastes produced at each step of manufacturing at tannery:

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3 Pakistan's Leather Industry:

The leather industry in Pakistan is continuing to grow. In fact, the overall bulk of industrialization still lies ahead and it is expected that industry will double in 10 years and then double again. The leather

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tanneries will no doubt be a part of this burgeoning trend. As long as there is a profit to be made in the arena, new factories--small or large--will continue to start up.

The chrome tanning method is the most widely used process in Pakistan's leather sector. However, thevegetable tanning method and a combination of chrome and vegetable tanning is also applied. Theprocess includes a number of different steps during which large quantities of water and chemicals areapplied to the skins. About 130 different chemicals are used in leather processing, depending on the typeof raw material used and finished product. These may be divided into four major classes: pretanningchemicals, tanning chemicals, wet finishing chemicals and finishing chemicals. Groundwater is used asthe major source of water in Pakistan's leather industry.

According to the Leather Industry Development Organization, there are 526 tanneries in Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Kasur, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Sialkot, with the majority of leather production taking place in medium-size tanneries. Animal skins—which are the basis of the leather industry—are obtained from the provinces of the Punjab and Sindh. Limited quantities of imported hides are also used. The season of peak activity begins around Eid-ul-Azha and extends for between two to three months. During this period, production levels can reach twice the normal level.

The leather industry as a whole--including both tanned leather and leather garments--is an important foreign exchange earner. Due to the leather industries prominent position in Pakistan's export industry, the national government has instead offered incentives-- such as a rebates on the export of leather and leather products, duty-free import of raw hides and skins for re-export after value- addition, and export refund scheme on export of leather footwear-- to bolster the leather industry with very little environmental guidance. These incentives are increasing the profit margin of the leather industry and encouraging more operations to set up shop--without the environmental controls. By falsely inflating the profit margin for such leather tanning operations, however, the government has created that much more of a difficult task in inevitably mandating the installation of waste-treatment equipment. The strong leather industry is currently still in a position to lobby strongly against such increased costs.

Pakistani exports of tanned leather is on the increase following a decline of leather production in the developed world due to more stringent environmental controls.

Pakistan's leather industry is one of the major foreign exchange earners for the country. About 90% of itsproducts are exported in finished form. During 1996-97, the production of leather was about 14.3 millionm2 and export earning amounted to US$ 642 million. In 1990 the leather sector jumped to become the second largest foreign exchange earner for the country by contributing 10.41 percent toward the total export revenue. The increase in tanned leather exports (not even including leather garments) from 1990-1995 alone is astounding. The leather products industry increased its amount of exports from $271 million USD in the 1990-1991 fiscal year to $349 million USD in 1994-95.

5. Environmental Management Plan for a typical tannery

S.NO PROJECT COMPONENET

TARGET ACTION RESPONSIBILITY

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1 Fungus on hides To protect the hides/skin from fungus

In order to protect the hides/skin from fungus make changes building structure. Use fiber glass roof on the hall where hides will stored instead of concrete.

Proponent / Design Consultants

2 Curing hides and skins

Reducing use of preservatives

Chill hides without salt to preserve them for a few days.

Industry Management / Proponent

3 Emergency Response

To mitigate the emergency condition as it arises

Fire extinguishers cylinder should be provided at many locations where necessary with GI wiring

Proponent / Design Consultants

4 Congestion and exhaustion

To decrease congestion and exhaustion

Number of windows should be designed in the hide yard.Adequate number of exhaust fans will be there to decrease congestion and exhaustion.

Proponent / Design Consultants

5 Impacts on surface and ground water

To mitigate the problem of contamination of surface and groundwater

The storage of lubricant materials such as oil and grease should be confined in to pits so that in case of any leakage or spillage, the lubricant materials do not contaminate the entire project site.

Contractor / Proponent

6 Health and Safety of workers and public

To ensure health and safety of workers and public

The Contractor should ensure that the construction workers are trained in safety procedures for all relevant activities of construction;Construction workers should be provided with proper safety equipment such as helmets, goggles, masks, etc. Proponents should make regular checks to ensure that the contractor is following safety measure instructions.

Contractor / Proponent

S.NO PROJECT COMPONENT

TARGET ACTION RESPONIBILITY

7 Water Consumption

To conserve water and reduce water consumption

With flow meters water conservation strategy should be adopted and the staff be trained. Converting from continuous to sequential

Industry Management / Proponent

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washing can lead to significant water saving and to a much reduced hydraulic load for the effluent treatment plant.

8 Wastewater Generation

To reduce wastewater generation and to ensure proper disposal.

Reuse of lime and water, recovery of chrome and alternatives of chemicals to be used

Industry management/ proponent

9 Solid Waste Generation

Reuse and to establish a proper Solid waste management plan

Reuse, recycle and sale to known buyers and poultry owners.

Industry management/Proponent

10 Emergency Response

To mitigate the problem of emergency situations

The internationally recognized health and safety standards will be adopted and the Emergency Response Plan should be developed and implemented in close consultation with the Fire Fighting Department, Paramedics and Civil Defense.

Industry management/Proponent

11 Chrome Reuse To save chrome that is wasted

Recycle Chrome through Precipitation process and reuse sludge after simple settling and acidification.

Industry management/Proponent

12 Occupational health and safety considerations

To reduce OHS issues and accidents

The provision and use of safety items such as face protective shields, acid resistant gloves, aprons, masks, etc. should be strictly enforced. Information about safety, health and environment should be visibly displayed in the workspace. Short-term training on occupational health and safety, modern practices of handling chemicals, etc. should be conducted for tannery staff and operators.

Industry management/Proponent

6. DEMOLITION PLAN:

The demolition plan for tannery should be addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term

remedial phase that should focus on the cleanup of the entire site.

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6.1 Immediate Actions:

Fence the site to limit access by the public.

Determine the structural soundness of wood-frame sections of the main tannery building and the

smokestack.

Remove asbestos and dispose at an approved off-site disposal facility which is found in building materials, pipework and insulation. PCBs can be found in electrical equipment such as transformers/hydraulic equipment and capacitors.

Determine soil and groundwater contamination which can occur when chemicals and wastewater

seep through the soil from unlined ponds, pipes and drains, or from dumps and spills. Important

pollutants include chlorides, tannins, trivalent chromium, sulphate and sulphides as well as other

trace organic chemicals and chlorinated solvents.

Demolish the remaining concrete and steel parts of the tannery building.

6.2 Entire Site: A remedial investigation (RI) should be undertaken to determine the nature and extent of

the contamination at and emanating from the site. Four rounds of sampling should be completed in on-

site and off-site locations, with each subsequent sampling round being designed based on information

from the prior round. As a result of this effort, a baseline ecological risk assessment can be conducted,

with samples taken from the on-site wetland and downstream locations of the stream, river or drain where

discharges from tannery might cause ecological risk due to presence of chromium.

The selected remedy can include excavation of contaminated soil hot spots from the former tannery

property, excavation/dredging of contaminated wetland and river or drain sediments located adjacent to

the former tannery property, solidification (the addition of cement additives to change the physical and

chemical characteristics in order to immobilize contaminants) and consolidation of the excavated/dredged

soils and sediments on the former tannery property, placement of a soil cover, and intermittent

groundwater extraction and treatment.

7. Social Action Plan:The imposition of social obligations on any industry provides an important opportunity to examine how social responsibilities are construed by companies and how these constructions relate to perceptions of the role of regulation, specifically the scope for compromise and influence with the regulator. The social

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action plan emphasizes the subjective and multiple nature of social responsibility and of regulatory relationships, and demonstrate struggles for the strategic and operational meaning over the nature of public interest and competitive advantage.

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Unit: Leather TanneryGoal: To reduce social implications die to the project and to enhance the social controls of the area.

ISSUE Tasks/Action Steps Timeline(By when?)

1. Resettlement Reduce land acquisition and resettlement issues. If they cannot be avoided, proper resettlement plans and compensations should be given.

2.Employment Employment policies of the tannery should be focused on hiring majority of the skilled and non-skilled workers from the surrounding communities.

3. Labour and Community Improvements

Development of plans and procedures for managing community health impacts due to the contamination of land and water resources. Control odours emitting from tannery to avoid being a nuisance to the community. Ensure basic considerations of animal rights and animal welfare are in place.Design and communication of an appropriate code of business conduct that considers concerns of key stakeholders (shareholders, employees, government bodies, NGOs).

Ensure there are fair wages, fair working hours and working conditions in place in line with national law.

4. Vulnerable customers Reducing the incidence of self-disconnection through inability to pay, Improving the uptake and quality of services provided to customers on the PriorityService Register.

5. Infrastructure development

Roads, provision of utilities and better civic and administrative structures are needed for a tannery. These should be shared with the community.

Evidence of success (How will you know you’re making progress?)

Evaluation process (How will you know your goal has been reached?)23

8. References

COTANCE (Confederation of Tanning Industries of the European Union). 2002. The European Tanning Industry Sustainability Review. Brussels, Belgium: COTANCE.

Environment Australia. 1999. National Pollutant Inventory. Emission Estimation Technique Manual for Leather Tanning and Finishing. Canberra, Australia: European Commission, Directorate General JRC,

Freudenburg, William R. 1986. Social Impact Assessment. Annual Review of Sociology, 1986. 12:451 - 78.

Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC). 2001. Reference Document on Best AvailableTechniques for the Tanning of Hides and Skins. BREF. May. Sevilla, Spain: IPPC.

IPPC, Integrated Pollution Prevention and control, UK Environmental Agency, Guidance for tanneries sector, 2002 (IPPC S6.08) http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Interorganizational Committee for Guidelines and Principles for SIA, May 1994. Guidelines and Principles for Social Impact Assessment. U.S. Department Commerce. Reprinted in Burdge, 1998 (op.cit.)

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