Impact of tannery industry on environment

3. Today our discussion is on
“Impact of tannery industry
on environment”

4. Tannery Industries of BangladeshTannery Industries of Bangladesh
The first tannery in Bangladesh territory was set up
at Narayanganj by RP Saha sometime in the
1940s. It was later shifted to Hazaribag area of
Dhaka, which turned into a location that now
accommodates a large number of tannery units.
The first tannery in Bangladesh territory was set up
at Narayanganj by RP Saha sometime in the
1940s. It was later shifted to Hazaribag area of
Dhaka, which turned into a location that now
accommodates a large number of tannery units.
Tannery transforms raw hides and skins into
leather for manufacturing articles like shoes, bag,
suitcase, belt, wallet and jacket.
Tannery transforms raw hides and skins into
leather for manufacturing articles like shoes, bag,
suitcase, belt, wallet and jacket.
At present, there are about 170 tannery units in
Bangladesh and they use locally available raw
hides and skins. Of them 114 are large and
medium units (by local standards) and are
registered with the Directorate of Industries
At present, there are about 170 tannery units in
Bangladesh and they use locally available raw
hides and skins. Of them 114 are large and
medium units (by local standards) and are
registered with the Directorate of Industries

5. Impact on environmentImpact on environment
These are inevitable by-products of the leather
manufacturing process and cause significant
pollution unless treated in some way prior to
discharge.
These are inevitable by-products of the leather
manufacturing process and cause significant
pollution unless treated in some way prior to
discharge.
These industries affect our environment in various
ways. The environment is under increasing
pressure from solid and liquid wastes emanating
from the Tannery industry.
These industries affect our environment in various
ways. The environment is under increasing
pressure from solid and liquid wastes emanating
from the Tannery industry.

6. Stakeholders networking focusing on the issueStakeholders networking focusing on the issue

7. The public life cycle issueThe public life cycle issue

8. Phase 1: Changing stakeholder expectationsPhase 1: Changing stakeholder expectations
About half a million residents of Dhaka are at risk of serious
illness due to chemical pollution from tanneries near their homes,
according to a report released last year by the Bangladesh
Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) and
the most affected area is Hazaribagh, a community in the south-
east corner of Dhaka, where 240 tanneries are located on 25
hectares of land, the report notes.
The report of SEHD says that:-
1. Numbers of the 8000–12 000 workers of tanneries suffer from
gastrointestinal
2. The SEHD report says that 58% of the tannery workers suffer
from gastrointestinal disease (vs. 24% for the country as a whole),
31% from dermatological diseases (vs 9%), 12% from
hypertension (vs 0.9%) and 19% from jaundice (vs. 0.07%).
3. Dermatological and other diseases could be related to the
pollution and that 90% of them die before the age of 50 vs less
than 60% for the country. . About
a quarter of these workers are under 11 years of age.
About half a million residents of Dhaka are at risk of serious
illness due to chemical pollution from tanneries near their homes,
according to a report released last year by the Bangladesh
Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) and
the most affected area is Hazaribagh, a community in the south-
east corner of Dhaka, where 240 tanneries are located on 25
hectares of land, the report notes.
The report of SEHD says that:-
1. Numbers of the 8000–12 000 workers of tanneries suffer from
gastrointestinal
2. The SEHD report says that 58% of the tannery workers suffer
from gastrointestinal disease (vs. 24% for the country as a whole),
31% from dermatological diseases (vs 9%), 12% from
hypertension (vs 0.9%) and 19% from jaundice (vs. 0.07%).
3. Dermatological and other diseases could be related to the
pollution and that 90% of them die before the age of 50 vs less
than 60% for the country. . About
a quarter of these workers are under 11 years of age.

9. Phase 1: Changing stakeholder expectationsPhase 1: Changing stakeholder expectations
Why the stakeholders expectation change:-
Though exporting processed leather is second highest foreign
revenue earner of Bangladesh ,it has lost the keeping the interest
of stakeholders for many reasons. Below discussion wiil clear the
reason behind changing stakeholders expectation:-
• Most of the tanneries are 30–35 years old and use mineral
tanning processes
• discharge about 6000 cubic metres of liquid effluent and 10 tons
of solid waste every day, according to figures from the
Bangladesh government and the Food And Agriculture
Organization
• tannery industries throw Chorium as waste which is a potential
harmful chemical because of carcinogenic potential
•Acidic effluents, it adds, can cause severe respiratory problems
• Gaseous emissions from the tanneries contain sulfur dioxide
that is converted into sulfuric acid on contact with moisture and
can damage lungs.
• The tanneries emit bad odour and pollute the air beyond
tolerable limits
Why the stakeholders expectation change:-
Though exporting processed leather is second highest foreign
revenue earner of Bangladesh ,it has lost the keeping the interest
of stakeholders for many reasons. Below discussion wiil clear the
reason behind changing stakeholders expectation:-
• Most of the tanneries are 30–35 years old and use mineral
tanning processes
• discharge about 6000 cubic metres of liquid effluent and 10 tons
of solid waste every day, according to figures from the
Bangladesh government and the Food And Agriculture
Organization
• tannery industries throw Chorium as waste which is a potential
harmful chemical because of carcinogenic potential
•Acidic effluents, it adds, can cause severe respiratory problems
• Gaseous emissions from the tanneries contain sulfur dioxide
that is converted into sulfuric acid on contact with moisture and
can damage lungs.
• The tanneries emit bad odour and pollute the air beyond
tolerable limits

10. Phase 2: Political ActionPhase 2: Political Action
In tannery industry political action has a great impact. When the
waste of tannery gets mixed with river water the environment is
polluted. The toxic water is highly unhygienic and it is great threat
for the environment. Most of our tannery industry is situated in the
densely populated area which is near a river. The tannery has
direct drain into the river and by this drain toxic water fall in river
and it pollute the water therefore the environment become
polluted by using this toxic river water the people suffer from
different types of disease. Different types of political and social
activist group come forward to reduce the sufferings of the mass
people for this they campaign and do other awareness program.
Then the issue draw the attention of government and other
political parties. As a result of political action the tannery industry
try to reduce the pollution by establishing E.P.T. for different types
of political actions the industry owner are compelled to reduce the
pollution to solve public issue.
In tannery industry political action has a great impact. When the
waste of tannery gets mixed with river water the environment is
polluted. The toxic water is highly unhygienic and it is great threat
for the environment. Most of our tannery industry is situated in the
densely populated area which is near a river. The tannery has
direct drain into the river and by this drain toxic water fall in river
and it pollute the water therefore the environment become
polluted by using this toxic river water the people suffer from
different types of disease. Different types of political and social
activist group come forward to reduce the sufferings of the mass
people for this they campaign and do other awareness program.
Then the issue draw the attention of government and other
political parties. As a result of political action the tannery industry
try to reduce the pollution by establishing E.P.T. for different types
of political actions the industry owner are compelled to reduce the
pollution to solve public issue.

11. Phase 3: Formal Government ActionPhase 3: Formal Government Action
Much legislative action has been taken in favor of tannries
industries during the past decade by our government. Tannries
industries has been enacted nationally and in many district and
cities. It creates some serious problem and detrimental affects
among pepole of a country.
Govt impose some rules,ragulation and obligation on this
business to prevent and slove those problem creating by tannries
industries. The followings are:
1) They should obey the enviroment conservation act 1995 and
enviroment conservation rules 1997.
2) They have to use water refine system in the factories
3) They must conscious of their using chemical.
4) They must keep clean their work place and have to provide
healthy uniform for their employess.
Much legislative action has been taken in favor of tannries
industries during the past decade by our government. Tannries
industries has been enacted nationally and in many district and
cities. It creates some serious problem and detrimental affects
among pepole of a country.
Govt impose some rules,ragulation and obligation on this
business to prevent and slove those problem creating by tannries
industries. The followings are:
1) They should obey the enviroment conservation act 1995 and
enviroment conservation rules 1997.
2) They have to use water refine system in the factories
3) They must conscious of their using chemical.
4) They must keep clean their work place and have to provide
healthy uniform for their employess.

12. Phase 4: Legal ImplementationPhase 4: Legal Implementation
Legal Implementation starts when all previous phases of public
life cycle issues (1. Changing stakeholder Expectations, 2.
Political Actions 3. Formal Govt Actions) are come into vain. In
this stage the gap between the public expectations and the actual
corporations performances reach to a critical moment. We can
see some negative effects of tannery industry –
1. Tannery discharges 21,600 square meters of liquid waste
daily[UNB,NOV,2003]
2. Produces 150 tons solid waste a day.[The Independent, May
09, 2006]
3. Emits 22,000 cubic meters of untreated toxic waste a day.[The
Daily Star, March 25,2003]
Legal Implementation starts when all previous phases of public
life cycle issues (1. Changing stakeholder Expectations, 2.
Political Actions 3. Formal Govt Actions) are come into vain. In
this stage the gap between the public expectations and the actual
corporations performances reach to a critical moment. We can
see some negative effects of tannery industry –
1. Tannery discharges 21,600 square meters of liquid waste
daily[UNB,NOV,2003]
2. Produces 150 tons solid waste a day.[The Independent, May
09, 2006]
3. Emits 22,000 cubic meters of untreated toxic waste a day.[The
Daily Star, March 25,2003]

13. Phase 4: Legal ImplementationPhase 4: Legal Implementation
To control the pollution Government has introduced some legal
obligations, laws, policies rules and regulations.
1. Environmental Conservation Act, 1995
2. Environmental Conservation Rules, 1997
3. Town Improvement Act, 1953
4. Industrial Policy, 1999
5. Environment Policy, 1992
All these laws and regulations are implemented to protect the
environment from pollution caused by tannery industry. And now
tannery owners are trying to shift their industry to Savar. As a
result our Dhaka would be pollution free in coming decades
To control the pollution Government has introduced some legal
obligations, laws, policies rules and regulations.
1. Environmental Conservation Act, 1995
2. Environmental Conservation Rules, 1997
3. Town Improvement Act, 1953
4. Industrial Policy, 1999
5. Environment Policy, 1992
All these laws and regulations are implemented to protect the
environment from pollution caused by tannery industry. And now
tannery owners are trying to shift their industry to Savar. As a
result our Dhaka would be pollution free in coming decades