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Uncovering the circular economy potential of industrial waste in Sri Lanka (case study from textile industrial - fabric waste)
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Researchers surveyed 120 apparel manufacturing industries in Sri Lanka to quantify fabric waste generation, finding that the sector produced 28,745 tonnes of waste in 2022 (approximately 10% of total production), dominated by mixed-material, nylon, polyester, and cotton offcuts managed primarily through recycling and co-processing with an estimated recoverable economic value of USD 12.74 per unit.
A comprehensive survey was undertaken to examine the production of fabric waste in the apparel manufacturing sector of Sri Lanka. The primary objective was to assess the composition, quantities, and potential economic value of the fabric waste generated within this sector. This investigation involved 120 carefully selected industries, and data collection was facilitated through a structured questionnaire. Additionally, on-site visits were conducted at random to verify the provided data. The total amount of fabric waste generated by these industries in 2022 was determined to be 28,745.3 tons, with the overall production reaching 288,456.6 tons. This waste predominantly consisted of fabric leftovers, accounting for approximately 88.3% of the total, while the remaining portion comprised yarn leftovers. The fabric leftovers were further categorized based on their material composition, with polyester accounting for 24.5%, nylon 25%, cotton 20%, and mixed material 30.5%. The prevalent methods employed for managing fabric waste were recycling (35.5%), reuse (5%), co-processing (35%), incineration (10.5%), open dumping (12%), and other methods (2%). The findings of this study reveal that around 60% of the fabric waste could be incorporated back into the material cycle with an estimated economic value of approximately USD 12.74 at present.
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