Economic and employment potential in textile waste management of Faisalabad

The aim of this study is to characterize the waste from the textile industry, to identify the sources and types of waste generation and to find out the economic and employment potential in this sector. Textile waste, its management, and the economic and employment potential in this sector are unrevealed facts in developing countries such as Pakistan. The textile industry is ranked first in export earning in Pakistan. Textile export of yarn and cloth from Faisalabad is US$3 billion per year. On average 161 325 people are employed in the textile sector in Faisalabad, of which 11 860 are involved in solid waste handling and management. The textile industries generate solid wastes such as fibre, metal, plastic and paper waste. A total of 794 209 kg day−1 (289 886 285 kg year−1) solid waste is produced from this sector and purchased by cotton waste junkshop owners at US$125 027 day−1 (US$45 634 855 year−1). Only pre-consumer textile waste is considered. Interestingly no waste is sent to landfill. The waste is ...