Tackling wastewater treatment in Tunisian tanneries

The main objective of the ongoing, “Eaucuir” LIFE-Third Countries project “Demonstration of wastewater treatment in Tunisian tanneries” (LIFE04 TCY/TN/063) is to promote and improve the use of wastewater treatment technologies in the tannery industry in Tunisia.

The leather sector is one of the most important economic sectors in Tunisia. Export to the EU has increased 10-fold since 1997. However, the industrial processes involved in leather production have a very negative impact on the environment due to the high quantities of water and chemicals used, and wastewater treatment technologies are rarely applied in Tunisian tanneries. In order to comply with environmental legislation and to improve the competitiveness of the leather sector, the development and introduction of wastewater treatment systems are necessary.