Providing «climate friendly» waste management solutions

  CO2 from fuel combustion

  Actions to reduce emissions:

All the actions whose goal is to optimize the routing of collection trucks and reduce fuel consumption lead to GHG emission reductions.

• Rationalization of collection operations and improvement of fuel efficiency lead to environmental benefits as well as significant savings (enhanced productivity, lower energy costs…).

• Use of alternative fuels (biodiesel, bioethanol…).

  460,300 liters of biodiesel (pure biodiesel) have been consumed by collection trucks, allowing emission reductions of 12,400 tonnes CO2eq.

• Development of alternative means of transportation (rail and waterway transport…) in substitution to road transportation.

  12.7 million tonnes of waste have been transferred, of which 1.5 million tonnes by rail or waterway (43% increase within two years).

• Implementation of driver training programs can improve fuel efficiency.

Veolia Environmental Services has implemented several projects using alternative means of transportation: for example transport by rail in Sydney (Australia); waterway transport in the Parisian region (France), in Hong Kong…

  CO2/N2O from waste combustion + CO2 from fuel combustion

  Actions to reduce emissions:

• Substitution of energy produced from fossil fuels by thermal energy and electricity from waste combustion to avoid the corresponding GHG emissions.

  Nearly 11 million tonnes of waste have been incinerated in waste to energy plants. 2,425 GWh thermal energy and
  3,539 GWh of electricity have been sold.
  

• Recovery of metals and bottom ashes from incineration.

  197,000 tonnes of metals have been recovered after incineration.

• Development of research programs on CO2 capture and storage recovery from flue gas.

The installation generates electricity that can be transferred to the neighbouring State of New Jersey’s electrical grid. Veolia Environmental Services is authorized to sell the Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for the corresponding electricity. The site produces an average 210,000 MWh/year, each MWh being equivalent to one REC. The avoided GHG emissions from the energy sold is close to 115,000 tonnes CO2eq/year.

  CH4 from landfill gas + CO2 from fuel combustion

  Actions to reduce emissions:

• Installation of active landfill gas collection and treatment systems to reduce methane emissions from landfills.

  434,000 tonnes of methane have been captured and treated via landfill gas treatment systems, that is 9.1 million tonnes CO2eq emission reductions.

• Use of landfill gas as a fuel to produce electricity or thermal energy (to feed an evaporator or for direct use). Energy produced from landfill gas avoids the emissions linked to fossil fuel consumption.

  64 sites are equipped with energy recovery systems.
  73.2 GWh thermal energy and 693 GWh of electricity have been sold.

In 2006, the electricity production reached 14,000 MWh (this equates to 10,900 tonnes CO2eq of avoided emissions), of which nearly 9,500 MWh were sold.

  CO2 from fossil energy consumption

  Actions to reduce emissions:

• Increase of the material recovery rate to save energy. Manufacturing goods from recycled materials requires less energy than producing goods from virgin materials. Re-entering these materials back into the resource cycle avoids the emissions which would have resulted from treating them in incinerators or landfills.

  7.05 million tonnes of raw material have been recovered.

  In the 243 non hazardous waste recycling facilities, 4.6 million tonnes of material have been recovered.

  Paper and cardboard represent the most significant part of the materials recovered: 2.1 million tonnes of paper have been recovered, limiting deforestation and avoiding the emission of 1.2 million tonnes CO2eq.

• Recovery of substitute fuels (waste oil, refuse derived fuels…) avoids the recourse to fossil fuels.

  239,000 tonnes of hazardous waste have been recycled to produce substitute fuels.

This installation contributes to Hampshire’s target for 50% recycling rate by 2010.

  CH4 from biogas + CO2 from fuel combustion

  Actions to reduce emissions:

• Increase the compost production, low-emitting treatment solution.

  2.04 million tonnes of waste have been composted, leading to the production of 827,000 tonnes of compost.

• Recovery of the methane from methanisation processes to produce energy and avoid emissions.

Offsets are verified by the Australian government through the «Greenhouse Friendly» program, providing non Kyoto credits to firms wishing to propose carbon neutral services and products to their clients.