Recognising the polluting effects of effluent waste disposed by the ready-made garment factories in Bangladesh, a mobile testing laboratory for waste water and sludge generated by effluent treatment plants (ETP) was inaugurated in Dhaka on April 19.
Equipped with sampling and measuring instruments and accessories, the lab offers on-the-spot testing and sampling services for washing, dyeing and finishing plants in the garments sector.
The keys of the vehicle was handed over by Deputy Head of the Embassy of Germany in Dhaka Dr Ferdinand von Weyhe to TÜV SÜD-Bangladesh V-P Bratin Roy. TÜV SÜD Bangladesh is a wholly owned subsidiary of the TÜV SÜD Group, a leading certification, testing, auditing, inspection and training organisation.
Deputy Chief (Planning), Planning Ministry Md Muslehuddin, factory owners and representatives from garment buyers and service providers were all present at the inaugural event.
Assuring the industry in Bangladesh that the consumers in Europe “do care about the environmental conditions”, under which RMG was produced in Bangladesh, Dr von Weyhe added, “Investment in environment can pay off. By the way, I’m looking forward to that day, when children can swim in clean water – next to a RMG factory.”
Thanks to this mobile lab, waste water can now be controlled, providing a scientific basis to further improve water quality.
Admitting that some of the smaller garment factories in Bangladesh might have ETPs in operation, Programme Coordinator of Germany’s Cooperation Agency GIZ Dr Jochen Weikert maintained that they lacked the equipment required in order to control the treated water.
“With this mobile testing service, we specifically serve the smaller and medium-sized factories so that they can make sure their waste water does not pollute the environment. Thus, the mobile laboratory is one step more towards a sustainable garment industry in Bangladesh, from which businesses, environment and people will benefit,” he added.
The testing facility will offer on-site sampling, testing, calibration of factory meters, and monitoring of environmental parameters, said a press release.
