Waste

KPIs Report

In 2019, 698 thousand tons of waste were generated, of which 46.8 thousand tons can be classified as hazardous and 651.2 thousand tons as non-hazardous. From the total generated waste, 52% of the waste was sustainably destined through reprocessing, recycling and reuse.

Performance Evolution

 Vale generated approximately  698,000 tons of waste in 2019, a 5.6% increase when compared to 2018. About 6.7% of these wastes are classified as hazardous. 

For mining and metallurgical residues in 2019, Vale generated 625.9 million tons.

Goals

Our Management

Vale has an environmental technology area that develops projects for the waste recovery with the operational areas. Each operational unit must unfold and adapted its waste management to its local reality and culture, seeking specific goals to meet its priorities and considering the Vale Waste Management Plan.

The programs targets are mainly focused on two indicators: reduction of generation and increase of sustainable destination, such as composting, reuse, re-refining and recycling, valuing the use and seeking to reduce the disposal of waste in landfills, in compliance with SDG 12 -Responsible Consumption and Production.

Risks Overview

As a way to control the destination of waste in Brazil, Vale created the Waste Recipient Audits Program, in which all companies that receive waste from Vale Brazil undergo an environmental assessment and auditing process within a maximum period of three years. During 2019, 61 audits were carried out, for a total of 265 companies actively registered.

Business Case

Wood waste energy use from the Carajás Mine

The Carajás Mine, through a project in partnership with a local company, sought to use wood waste energy to reduce the final disposal in landfills, besides supporting the activities of a local furniture cooperative. The result was the reuse of 220 tons of wood waste during 2018, with potential for expansion in the coming years.

PCBs Destination

Vale has also developed actions to speed up the destination of waste with polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs, in all its operational units, and thus anticipate the goals of the Stockholm Convention for eliminating such materials by 2025, besides ensuring their adequate final disposal by 2028. PCBs are considered environmental contaminants that impact health and ecosystems. In 2018, 150 tons of PCB waste were disposed of in Brazil, including transformer equipment and used oils.

Heavy Recycling Vale

Initiative stirs up the chain that turns waste into social, environmental and economic gains, by recycling 9 thousand tons of tires per year. The waste originated from unserviceable trucks is wholly reused. The scrap metal is converted into construction material, such as rebar. Tires are returned as lagging rubber sheets or are turned into rubber chips. The tire recycling companies set up near Vale’s operations, stimulating the local development.