Sustainable Development

Waste management activities generate 3% of worldwide/European/American Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions

Waste management activities on installations operated by Veolia Environmental Services generate GHG emissions. These emissions, related to waste produced by others, are accounted for in Veolia Environmental Services’ reporting. Veolia Environmental Services has been consolidating its GHG emissions since 2000.

In 2003, « e-report », an innovative tool for environmental reporting was launched. It allows the calculation of the Group’s yearly GHG emissions (direct, indirect and avoided emissions) from all of its activities.

Direct emissions

> Direct CO2 emissions: generated by fossil fuel combustion from vehicles, processes and equipment owned or controlled by Veolia Environmental Services (fuel or natural gas combustion, incineration of waste’s fossil fraction, fuel combustion in vehicles…).

> Direct CH4 emissions: calculated using models that are recognized at national or international level, they correspond to the fraction of the methane, generated through the anaerobic degradation of the organic fraction of waste disposed in landfills, that is not captured by active landfill gas collection and treatment systems.

Indirect emissions

CO2 emissions related to the production of electricity (by an external entity) consumed by Veolia Environmental Services’ installations.

Avoided emissions

Thermal energy and electricity produced by Veolia Environmental Services by converting landfill gas or heat produced by waste incineration into energy, thereby avoiding CO2 emissions that would have occurred by using fossil fuel to generate an equivalent amount of energy.

Although contributing to GHG emission reductions, avoided emissions from recycling and biological treatment activities are not yet accounted for in Veolia Environmental Services annual emissions calculations.

A policy aimed at reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions

Veolia Environmental Services carries out a number of actions to significantly reduce its Greenhouse Gas emissions. By doing so, the Group adopts a proactive approach in the fight against climate change. As a leader in the waste management sector, Veolia Environmental Services considers emission reduction as one of its highest priorities.