An Assessment of Carpet Waste Generation and Waste Disposal Management Practices in the Carpet Industry of Bhadohi District, Uttar Pradesh, India

The present study assessed carpet waste generation and waste disposal management practices in the carpet industry of Bhadohi district, Uttar Pradesh, with particular emphasis on identifying the major sources of industrial waste and evaluating existing disposal mechanisms adopted by carpet manufacturing units. A purposive-cum-random sampling technique was employed to select 60 respondents representing small, medium and large carpet manufacturing units across four major carpet-producing blocks. Primary data were collected through a pre-tested structured interview schedule, personal interviews and field surveys, while secondary information was obtained from government reports, regulatory agencies and published literature. The collected data were analysed using percentage analysis, Garrett Ranking Technique and the Chi-square test. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents were experienced middle-aged entrepreneurs and production personnel possessing adequate industry knowledge. Dyeing and washing operations emerged as the principal sources of hazardous industrial waste, with all respondents reporting the generation of spent dye liquor, chemical residues and wastewater containing high pollutant loads. Fibrous solid waste generated during spinning, weaving and finishing also constituted a significant proportion of the overall waste stream. The study further revealed that environmentally unsustainable disposal practices were predominantly observed among small-scale manufacturing units, where untreated effluents were frequently discharged into open drains or agricultural land, accompanied by widespread open dumping and burning of solid waste. In contrast, larger units demonstrated relatively better environmental compliance through the installation of Effluent Treatment Plants and the adoption of fibre recycling practices. The findings highlighted substantial disparities in waste management practices across unit sizes and underscored the need for improved environmental infrastructure, stricter regulatory enforcement and wider adoption of sustainable waste management technologies. The study concluded that strengthening institutional support, promoting cleaner production practices and expanding common waste treatment facilities would significantly enhance environmental sustainability, resource efficiency and the long-term competitiveness of the carpet industry in Bhadohi district.

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