Taking care of the environment: DTEK Dnipro Grids sent over 42,000 tons of waste for recycling
DTEK Dnipro Grids sorts industrial waste into 40 categories: solid household waste, scrap metal, waste insulators, transformer oil, wastepaper, etc. They do this to send as much waste materials as possible for recycling and utilization, and not accumulate at landfills. 85% of the collected waste is recycled and 15% is sent to landfills. This waste management is consistent with the European circular economy and helps to sustainably consume natural resources.
“DTEK is transforming its business in accordance with the New 2030 Strategy, based on ESG principles, values and business responsibility for progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Global Compact. During the last year alone, our company sent 10,000 tons of waste for processing and utilization. In total, more than 42,000 tons over the past seven years. Through our waste management system, we recycle more than 85% of our waste, rather than take it to landfills. Most of it is reused after processing,” says Andrii Tereshchuk, CEO at DTEK Dnipro Grids.
The main waste product of the company is reinforced concrete poles. On average, 5-7,000 tons per year. These are sent for recycling to be reused at the construction site to make crushed stone and reinforcement. Among other waste: waste oil products, tires, oily waste, batteries, wastepaper, glass, waste electrical equipment, polymers, waste mercury lamps, waste rubber products. Also, the company annually produces 70 tons of broken porcelain insulators. It is an inert material that can be used in the production of refractories, electrical ceramics, as well as for arranging paths in landscape design. The company is now looking for potential customers.
The waste management system at DTEK Dnipro Grids was recognized as the best at the Green Technologies and Innovations competition in Dnipropetrovsk Region in April 2018. The competition was held by the Federation of Employers' Organizations within the framework of the Ukrainian-German project "Green Business Solutions - Unity for Sustainable Development".
In addition, the company is doing their best to reduce waste generation. Since 2019, DTEK Dnipro Grids has not purchased mercury-containing lamps. If incandescent and energy-saving lamps fail, they are replaced with LED ones. The lamps are sent to a specialized enterprise that disposes mercury containing waste. The company is also gradually abolishing the use of oil circuit breakers, replacing them with more environmentally friendly vacuum devices. DTEK Dnipro Grids plans to stop the use of mercury-containing lighting devices completely by 2023.
Each division of the company has designated areas with waste sorting bins. Used batteries, for example. Over the past year, workers have collected almost 200 kilograms of batteries, which later were handed over for recycling. And since the beginning of 2021, the company has joined the Precious Plastic project and installed additional 30 bins for collecting plastic lids, which will turn into useful products and modern art objects.
DTEK Dnipro Grids train all its employees on how to responsibly consume resources, sort waste and send them for recycling not only at work, but also at home. For this purpose, the enterprise systematically conducts a Zero Waste information campaign.