Abstract:

The constantly encouraged worldwide production and consumption of textile products is leading to an increase in wastes, which causes environmental problems. This research is aimed at identifying the present state of textile waste generation and treatment in Lithuania and compare the trends obtained with other EU countries. The investigation is based on statistical data of textile waste generation and management from 2009 to 2014 in Lithuania. Municipal textile wastes and those from the leather, fur and textile industries as well as other fields of this kind of waste generation were taken for analysis. On average, 6500 tonnes per year of total textile waste was generated during the period analysed. According to these data, Lithuania is in a middle position in comparison with other EU countries. A significant growth in the collection of municipal wastes is observed. From 2012, pre-consumer textile waste amounts to on average 32 percent of the total textile waste collected. The dominant practice of treatment was  disposal in landfills, but an increasing tendency to recycle textile waste was observed. Nevertheless a great deal more effort should be made to promote the prevention of waste production and to achieve the average EU waste management indicators.