At Cerrejón, generated solid residues have been classified according to their characteristics, origin, volume, treatment, recuperation possibilites and use.
According to the above and to the valid legal dispositions, a series of actions are established,aimed at giving the residues the most adequate destination in environmental terms; they are classified as special, ordinary, hospital, recyclable or usable residues.
For this purpose Cerrejón has a Comprehensive Solid Residues (Waste) Management Plan which includes:
- Disposal of ordinary residues in manually operated trenches.
- Encapsulating and inertization of special residues.
- Separation and recuperation of re-usable materials or materials apt for recycling.
- Collection routes in compacting trucks.
- Temporary residue storage areas.
- Incinerator ( Res. 058/02 – 886/04 Ministry of the Environment).
- Sensitization, education and training of employees, contractors and the Mushaisa community.
Additionally, control mechanisms of the process are available, such as weighing of all residues, their registration and identification, disposal procedures according to the residue, gas monitoring and temperature records of the incinerator.
The plan is aimed at:
Generating a corporate culture of environmental responsibility.
Adapting the purchase of products that generate dangerous residues, with previous agrements with the suppliers in terms of their responsibility for the environmentally adequate disposal of the residues.
Increasing the recuperation and re-use of residues as raw materials or energy sources.
Disposing of the remaining, non usable residues in an appropriate place, compatible with the requirements of environmental legislation.
The above mentioned set of actions has facilitated complying with the goal of environmental management which is to control and reduce the source of generation of solid residues; their management and adequate final disposal in compliance to the established environmental requirements. The process is followed up by means of performance indicators that show its effectiveness.
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