TEXTILE and apparel production are central to Bangladesh’s economic success. The ready-made garment sector has fuelled export growth, employment and economic change over the last 30 years. As the world’s second-largest apparel exporter, Bangladesh’s textile industry supports global fashion markets and employs millions. This industrial growth has greatly reduced poverty and strengthened the economy.
However, this success has led to an often-overlooked issue: large-scale textile waste. Without sustainable systems to handle both pre-consumer and post-consumer textile waste, the environmental and social costs threaten long-term development goals. Textile waste management is therefore not just an environmental concern but also a governance and sustainability challenge.
Textile waste occurs throughout the production and consumption process. Pre-consumer waste includes fabric scraps and offcuts generated during cutting, sewing and finishing in factories. Post-consumer waste is made up of discarded garments. Globally, the fashion industry is a major contributor to solid waste, and Bangladesh is no exception.
The RMG sector alone produces large amounts of fabric waste, and increasing domestic clothing consumption is boosting post-consumer textile disposal. Although exact national data are limited, industry estimates indicate that millions of tonnes of textile waste are generated each year from factories and households combined.
The global growth of fast fashion has worsened this issue. Bangladesh imports large amounts of cheap clothing that are often not durable and are quickly thrown away. At the factory level, poor cutting practices, tight deadlines and limited use of waste-reducing technologies lead to more fabric waste. Without a proper recycling system, most textile waste ends up in open land, poorly managed landfills or informal recycling channels with few environmental protections.
Improper disposal of textile waste creates serious environmental and public health risks. Synthetic fibres like polyester, nylon and acrylic are non-biodegradable and can remain in the environment for decades. When textile waste ends up in landfills, harmful chemicals from dyes and finishing agents can leach into soil and groundwater. Many disposal sites lack proper liners, drainage systems and leachate treatment, increasing the risk of contamination for nearby ecosystems and communities.
Microplastic pollution has become an added concern. As synthetic textiles break down, they release microfibers, tiny plastic particles that enter rivers and coastal waters. Studies have found microplastics in waterways near Dhaka and other industrial zones, with textile waste identified as a major source. These pollutants threaten aquatic life, disrupt ecosystems and can enter human food chains. Air pollution is also linked to textile waste when unsorted materials are burned in informal or peri-urban areas, releasing toxic gases and particulate matter that worsen respiratory diseases.
Beyond environmental harm, textile waste management also has important social and economic effects. The RMG sector remains vital for jobs and foreign income, so waste-reduction efforts should not harm industrial competitiveness or workers’ livelihoods. At the same time, unmanaged waste greatly affects low-income communities near dumping sites, where poor infrastructure and limited public services worsen health and environmental risks.
Informal recycling activities like collecting fabric scraps and reselling used clothing generate income for many marginalised groups. However, these activities often occur without formal regulation, occupational safety standards or social protections. Workers may face exposure to hazardous materials and uncertain earnings. Therefore, textile waste presents both a challenge due to environmental damage and social inequality and an opportunity for green jobs and circular economic growth.
A major challenge to effective textile waste management is the lack of a comprehensive policy and institutional framework. Although regulations are in place for industrial pollution and general solid waste, textile-specific guidelines remain weak. Enforcement is inconsistent due to limited technical capacity, fragmented responsibilities, and resource constraints among regulatory agencies.
Recycling and processing infrastructure are also insufficient. Only a few formal facilities can manage large quantities of textile waste and convert it into reusable materials. Without financial incentives for waste segregation, recycling technologies, and value-added reuse, most textile waste remains unmanaged. Poor coordination among government agencies, manufacturers, exporters, waste operators, NGOs and communities further hinders large-scale solutions.
Addressing textile waste requires a comprehensive and inclusive approach. First, stronger policy frameworks are crucial. Clear regulations that focus on waste reduction, reuse, and recycling should be put in place, along with extended producer responsibility schemes that hold manufacturers and brands accountable for the entire product lifecycle. Second, promoting circular economy models through garment take-back programs, better design practices, and industrial symbiosis is essential.
Third, investing in modern recycling infrastructure through public-private partnerships can create green jobs and formalise informal work. Fourth, awareness campaigns can promote responsible consumption, repair, and reuse. Last but not least, enhanced research and data collection are vital to support evidence-based policy and investment decisions.
Textile waste management is at a critical juncture between industrial growth and environmental sustainability. With coordinated efforts from government, industry, civil society, and consumers, Bangladesh can turn textile waste from an obstacle to development into an opportunity for long-term sustainability and inclusive growth.
Dr Nasim Ahmed holds a PhD in public policy from Ulster University in the UK and currently works as associate professor of public policy at the Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (affiliated with the University of Dhaka).
