Study on potentials for process integrated pollution control in leather tanneries in Guatemala

Resonsible Institutions
Fachhochschule beider Basel (FHBB) - Institute of Environmental Technology
Fichtenhagstrasse 4, CH-4132 Muttenz
Dr. Dieter Mutz (d.mutz@fhbb.ch),
Christian Buser (c.buser1@fhbb.ch),

Centro de Produción más Limpia de Guatemala
Ing. José Angel Gutiérrez (cgpl@cgpl.org.gt)
Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala

The Project:
On behalf of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) the Institute of Environmental Technology of FHBB supports the three National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPC) of Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica in promoting the concept of cleaner production in Central America. Goal of the Project is to establish the NCPC’s as national focal points for the promotion and implementation of eco-efficient industrial production techniques in small and medium sized enterprises (SME). Task of FHBB as Reference Centre is the building up of capacity by providing training, information and know how about clean technologies as well as linking the local SME with providers of technology (technology transfer). On local level the NCPC’s collaborate strongly with local universities, the chambers of industry as well as with local consultants. In order to gain acceptance for the principle of process integrated pollution control (Cleaner Production) by local SME and to build up competences in specific sectors the NCPC’s are obliged to carry out several case studies with special focus on the savings achieved and environmental benefits. The practical work in the enterprises is usually done by local consultants and students under the supervision of the NCPC including the support of the Reference Centre.
One of the main focal points of the NCPC in Guatemala1 is the leather tanning sector, which on one side represents an important segment of Guatemalan industry, but on the other is very polluting, because of high gaseous, liquid and solid emissions. The Guatemalan SME thus have to prepare for the new environmental legislation coming into force within the next 2-3 years. On this context the NCPC Guatemala welcomed the requests of Mr. Urs Baumann, Student at the Institute of Environmental Technology (FHBB), and Mr. Guillermo Girón, Student at the Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala, to carry out their diploma work in the field of Cleaner Production. It was agreed that the two students carry out a Cleaner Production in plant assessment in a leather tannery. The aim of the project is to identify Cleaner Production options to optimize the processes and to improve the environmental situation of the enterprises as a first step, before expensive end-of-pipe technologies are to be installed. The findings are to be evaluated in economic and environmental terms and shall be used as reference case study for further works in the tanning sector.

For further information about the project please refer to http://www.unido.org/doc/331390.phps and to http://www.cgpl.org.gt