Chrome-tanned leather waste generated in huge amount from leather industry causing environmental problem; this leather waste was used as filler in acrylonitrile butadiene rubber before treatment and after treatment with ammonia solution and sodium formate. Different formulations of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/leather waste (untreated-treated with ammonia solution-treated with sodium formate) composites are prepared. The formed composites exhibit a considerable improvement in some of their properties such as rheometric characteristics especially with composites loaded with treated leather waste. Tensile strength, modulus at 100% elongation, hardness, and Young's modulus were improved for composite loaded with treated leather. Crosslinking density in toluene was increased by the incorporation of leather wastes treated or untreated resulting in decreases in swelling equilibrium. Distinct increase in the ageing coefficient and the thermal stability for composites loaded with both treated and untreated leather. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 979-988, 2011