Buffing dust is a proteinous solid waste impregnated with chromium, synthetic fat, oil, tanning agents and dye chemicals which is generated during the manufacture of leather. About 2-6 kg of buffing dust is liberated as a solid waste per ton of skin/hide processed. The concentration of chromium in the dust is 27 g/kg of dust. Dumping of solid waste as landfill accounts for soil and groundwater contamination. The maximum concentration of the chromium in the contaminated soil and groundwater were 714 mg/kg of soil and 0.25 mg/l, respectively. A method to generate activated carbon from the buffing dust is discussed. The adsorption capacity of activated carbon obtained from buffing dust was 6.24 mg/g at pH 3.5, temperature 30 o C for dye concentration of 6.25 mg/l and activation temperature 800 o C. The rate constant for removal of dye was 0.026 min - 1 . The effect of initial dye concentration, pH, temperature and particle size on adsorption of dye are also determined.