This study was initiated to explore the concept of recycling of paper mill effluents at Hayatabad Industrial Estate,
Peshawar. The objective was to reduce pollution load of paper mill effluents via recycling of sundry plants. For this
purpose a detail study was conducted at paper mills and sundry plants at Hayatabad Industrial Estate. The plants
were examined for operation and sampled for waste water. Total 7 waste water samples were collected from selected
points of Paper mills, Industrial drain and Sundry plants. Samples were analyzed for various physicochemical characteristics (colour, pH, EC, Alkalinity, Turbidity, TDS, TSS, COD and BOD5) by adopting standard methods for the
examination of water and waste water. These samples were also investigated for micronutrients/heavy metals (Cr, Pd,
Cd, Ni, Fe, Zn and Cu), using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The obtained results were compared with Pak-
NEQS for industrial effluents. Results showed high limits of pH(8-8.2), EC(738-764uS/cm), Alkalinity(463-581mg/l),
Turbidity(166-180NTU), TSS(967-1063.5mg/L), TDS(1673.3-1805.1mg/L), BOD5 (180.6-261.3mg/L) and COD (397-
418.2mg/L) in effluents of paper mills. Among heavy metals Cd, Cr and Pd were observed above Pak-NEQS for
industrial discharges with average range of 1-3, 2.1-3.2 and 1.01-2.3mg/L respectively. The effluents were recycled
in sundry plants for manufacturing paper board/gatta. Analysis of recycled water reduced the levels of analyzed
parameters upto low limits as pH(7.1-7.4), EC(336-345uS/cm), Alkalinity(425-580mg/L), Turbidity(140-154NTU),
TDS(570-600mg/L), TSS(300-332mg/L), COD(210-200.3mg/L), BOD5 (125-132 mg/L). It was observed that huge
quantity of waste water is generated during paper manufacturing and its direct discharge into receiving water is an
emerging concern. While the study proved that pollution level of paper mill effluents can be discouraged by recycling
of sundry plants. Therefore it is recommended to enhance the installation of sundry plants in proposed industrial estate.