Overview of Textile Waste

Abstract

The textile sector is one of the oldest sectors. After food, clothing comes as the next primary human necessity. Rapid population growth encourages the textile sector to boost production to meet the demand for clothing and apparel, which leads to a significant amount of textile waste. The resulting waste is handled via landfilling or incineration procedures, both of which have a detrimental environmental impact. A significant volume of textile effluent is produced through wet processing because it uses a lot of water and chemicals. When textile waste is dumped on the ground or in water sources, it contaminates both the land and the water bodies. The improper disposal of textile waste leads to soil and water pollution. By using effective waste management techniques, it is possible to reduce environmental contamination and thus establish a circular economy by turning waste into valuable goods. The present paper provides a thorough description of the various types and categories of textile waste and effluents, as well as the sources that produce them. This paper also discusses the major causes of textile waste and also highlights the impact of textile waste on the environment and human health. This study examines diverse textile processing steps along with a wide range of pollutants produced during textile processing and their toxic effects on weavers, employees, and the environment (air pollution, soil pollution, water, and noise pollution). © 2025 Scrivener Publishing LLC.