An Industry Overview of Leather Products Manufacturing

Industry Overview

Not all facilities that manufacture leather goods produce hazardous waste. If you do produce hazardous waste, however, you might be subject to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements covering the generation, transportation, and management of hazardous waste.

Your business is included in the leather-products manufacturing industry category if you:

Hazardous Wastes from Leather Products Manufacturing

Manufacturers of leather products are likely to produce spent solvent wastes and wastes from the use of lacquers, materials containing lead, dyes, or materials that produce hydrogen sulfide. Table I lists general processes/operations that use hazardous materials and that might result in the generation of hazardous waste. If you generate 100 kilograms (220 pounds or about half of a 55-gallon drum) or more of hazardous waste per month, you must fill out a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest when you ship the hazardous waste off your property. The Manifest requires the proper Department of Transportation (DOT) description for each waste. Table 2 lists proper DOT shipping descriptions for a number of wastes that might be generated by the leather products manufacturing industry. Table I and Table 2 are not comprehensive lists. If a particular chemical you use is not included in these tables and you suspect it is hazardous, contact your state hazardous waste management agency or EPA Regional office for assistance.

Waste Minimization

An effective waste minimization program can reduce the costs, liabilities, and regulatory burdens of hazardous waste management, while potentially enhancing efficiency, product quality, and community relations. Waste minimization techniques that can help you reduce the amount of hazardous waste that you generate include:

Training and supervision of employees implementing waste minimization techniques is an important part of your successful program. Call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline toll-free at 800-4249346 (or TDD 800-553-7672 for the hearing-impaired) for waste minimization information and publications.

Table I. Typical Leather Manufacturing Operations: Materials Used and Hazardous Wastes that Might be Generated

Process/OperationMaterials UsedGeneral Types of Waste Generated
Beamhouse/TanhouseLime, acids, chromium, Acid/Alkaline saltsToxic heavy metal wastes (dust and sludge)
Other toxic wastes
Finishing/TrimmingChromium, solvents, dyes, lacquersToxic heavy metal wastes (dust and sludge)
Other toxic wastes
Spent solvent wastes

Table 2 Leather Products Manufacturing Waste Descriptions

Spent Solvents, Solvent Still Bottoms, and Other Ignitable or Toxic Wastes ContainingDesignations/Trade Names 
Trichloroethylenc*Tri-Clene, Trielene, Tri 
Carbon Tetrachloride*Perchlommethane, Tetraform, Carbona, Halon 104 
TolueneToluol, Methercid, Methyl Benzene. Methylbenzol, Phenylmcthane, Antisol IA 
Methyl Ethyl Ketone*Methyl Ethyl Ketone, MEK, Methyl Acetone, Meetco, Butanone, Ethyl Methyl Ketone 
Benzene*Benzene 
White SpiritsMineral Spirits, Naphtha, Stoddard Solvent 
KeroseneKerosene, Fuel Oil #1 
Hexachloroethane*Hexachloroethanc  
Ethyl BenzeneEthyl Benzene 
Chilorobenzenc*Monochlorobenzene, Phenylchloride 
Trichloroethylene*Trichloroethylene, Ethinyl trichloride, Tri-Clene, Trielene, Tri 
Other Hazardous Waste
UN/NA DOT Shipping NameWaste TypeHazard Class 10 Number
Hazardous WasteNOS4 
Hazardous Waste  
Waste TrichloroethyleneORM-AUN1710
Waste Carbon TetrachlorideORM-AUN1846
Waste Toluene (toluol)Flammable LiquidUN1294
Waste Methyl Ethyl KetoneFlammable LiquidUN1193
Waste Benzene (benzol)Flammable LiquidUN1114
Waste NaphthaFlammable LiquidUN2553
Waste KeroseneCombustible LiquidUN1223
Waste HexachloroethaneORM-ANA9037
Waste Ethyl BenzeneFlammable LiquidUN1175
Waste ChlorobenzeneFlammable LiquidUN1134
Waste TrichloroethyleneORM-AUN1710
Hazardous Wastes, Liquid or Solid, NOSORM-ENA9189
*Toxicity Characteristic constituent. Any waste that results in a TCLP extract containing a Toxicity Characteristic constituent equal to or above regulatory levels is hazardous.

  1. These descriptions may change given variations in waste characteristics or conditions. Note that the DOT shipping name, hazard class, and UN/NA ID number do not directly correspond to RCRA categories of hazardous waste.
  2. A flammable liquid has a flub point below 100ºF.
  3. A combustible liquid has a flash point between 100ºF and 200ºF.
  4. NOS - Not otherwise specified.


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Last Updated: November 21, 1995