We manage the impacts of our waste streams by aligning our policies and procedures with sustainability principles and leading practice. We regularly review our policy and management standard to ensure relevance and alignment with legislation.
Exxaro is developing an overarching ESG policy that will include how we approach waste management. The ESG policy is still in draft and will be approved in 2024.
Waste management practices align with our overarching environment policy and support the objectives of our Social Impact strategy.
Our waste management practices incorporate:
We comply with the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act 59 of 2008) and supporting legislation in our approach to ensure prevention, minimisation, reuse and recycling before any disposal to landfill can be considered and we obtain and keep safe waste disposal certificates.
As required by waste management licences, our management procedures include waste classification and efficiency reporting. These are informed by sustainability KPIs aligned with ESG indices to drive continuous improvement. Detailed procedures and KPIs ensure we honour our commitments. We track waste volumes generated, recycled and sent to registered landfills using KPIs such as total hazardous waste sent to landfill, recyclable waste generated, costs of environmental fines and penalties, policy commitment statement to address the waste issue, reduce and avoid the impact and improve efficiency as recommended by FTSE Russell.
| KPI | Target |
| Disclosure of working with others to reduce pollution, waste or resource use by participation in specific local or global initiatives as well as collaboration with other companies using the same waste streams as inputs such as waste tyres | Ongoing Impact Catalyst initiatives |
|---|---|
| Disclosure of three years’ hazardous waste generation in tonnes | Ongoing |
| Total costs of environmental fines and penalties during the financial year | December 2022 |
| Independent verification of operations’ environmental data using an international assurance standard and declaring assurance level | December 2024 |
| Financial quantification of pollution, waste or resource use specifying costs associated with their impacts (including shadow costing) and investment in research and development on reducing or avoiding their impacts, including funding of research and development organisations | December 2024 |
| Time-specific targets (unquantified and quantified) to reduce or avoid waste | December 2025 |
| Disclosure of three years of non-recycled waste generation in tonnes | December 2025 |
| Disclosure of three years of waste recycled in tonnes | December 2025 |
| Progress against previously set targets (unquantified and quantified) to reduce or avoid waste | December 2028 |
We are in the process of setting targets that will enable us to divert 80% to 85% of recyclable waste from landfill sites by 2025. The scope of work for the waste stream assessment and classification was finalised and will inform our waste management strategy for recycling target setting for each operation and site-specific targets.
BUs are responsible for managing their general and hazardous waste, and report volumes monthly. Examples of hazardous waste emanating from our operations include used oil, contaminated soil, medical waste, used personal protective equipment and sewage. General waste comprises:
Material waste at Cennergi’s facilities includes general waste, oil rags and used oil. Cennergi implements waste separation at source to increase recycling, where possible, and minimise waste sent to landfill.
In compliance with the South African Waste Information System, sites producing more than 20kg/day of waste are registered and maintain compliance certificates. As we do not have on-site waste treatment processes, we receive the certificates when certified contractors take hazardous waste (including used oil, hydrocarbons and sewage) to licensed facilities. Medical waste produced by on-site clinics at Matla and Grootegeluk is managed by medical professionals.
We run awareness campaigns at BUs through monthly talks with specific topics. This encourages employees to manage waste in a responsible manner topics for the month.
Waste management was also chosen as the theme to celebrate World Environment Day at Matla.
Innovative waste management
The waste tyre reclamation project demonstrates how Exxaro pursues innovative waste handling, transportation and disposal solutions in compliance with legislation and to reduce our liabilities.
Exxaro stores used off-the-road tyres at Grootegeluk before removal by a specialist recycling contractor that converts these tyres into reusable material. The tyres are stored in a facility with controlled access, stacking plans and fire prevention measures. After successful implementation at Grootegeluk, the project was rolled out to Leeuwpan. The project showed that, while mining will impact an area, a responsible approach enables us to meet our commitment to sustainability and reduce long-term environmental liabilities while operating the mine. Exxaro contracted Impact Catalyst to conduct a feasibility study to determine options for sustainable waste tyre disposal and in alignment with the National Waste Management Strategy 2020. Impact Catalyst, in collaboration with Exxaro and the Lephalale local municipality, developed an implementable solution that promotes waste management and disposal in an environmentally responsible manner. This integrated waste management solution supports local economic development in the Lephalale local municipality, creating employment opportunities and facilitating business participation.
Key project highlights
First time in the mining industry that such a project was conducted, giving Exxaro an opportunity to lead in waste tyre management. The project was rolled out at Leeuwpan to remove its waste tyres
Exxaro has been working with government’s Waste Management Bureau to dispose of waste tyres in compliance with regulations since 2013. Exxaro and other mining houses participate in the discussions through the Minerals Councils to look at alternative options of disposing waste tyres
Part of government’s R2.30/kg levy funds waste tyre recycling. Exxaro held numerous meetings with the Waste Management Bureau to remove the waste tyres which were bought after 2013 as the levies cover the recycling of these tyres
Our sustainability managers, supported by on-site environmental specialists, under the leadership of the chief sustainable impact officer, oversee the implementation of our policy and practices at operations
The facility site manager supported by the head: corporate and social responsibility oversee policy implementation and practice at wind energy and solar facilities. Cennergi’s operation and maintenance contractors are responsible for waste management at both wind energy facilities.
| General waste recycled (t) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Ferrous and non-ferrous scrap | 2 646 | 2 620 | 2 950 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | 46 | 46 | 28 |
| High-density polyethylene | 11 | 102 | 34 |
| Plastics | – | – | 6 |
| Total | 2 703 | 2 768 | 3 018 |
Hazardous waste sent to landfills (t)
General waste recycled decreased by 2% to 2 703t (2022: 2 768t) due to less volumes of high-density polyethylene recycled at Grootegeluk.
The total weight of hazardous waste generated at our managed coal operations and sent to landfills increased to 3 186t (2022: 1 624t). The 54% increase in the amount of hazardous waste sent to landfill at Grootegeluk is due to the workshop wash bay silt being included as hazardous waste as of April 2023. The decision was made based on a DWS finding indicating that the silt from the wash bays has the potential to pollute due to its hydrocarbon content and can thus not be disposed as plant discard. Alternatives are being investigated and the outcome of the waste classification will confirm the way forward.
The drive to improve housekeeping across the mine also added to this increase in waste being taken to the hazardous waste storage area for disposal.
To address the increase, the mine will investigate and implement the delisting of the workshop wash bay silt in 2024 and 2025.
Cennergi did not report any waste grievance, fines and penalties during the year.
Initiatives per operation
Exxaro is also working on the following initiatives to further improve our waste management approach:
Case study:
The broader positive impacts of our waste management approach focus on, among others, the socio-economic development of the communities surrounding our operations. At Belfast, we contract a black youth-owned company that employs people from the community to sort and collect recyclable waste (paper, cans, cardboard, plastic and glass).
Applying Exxaro’s waste hierarchy principles, the company sells Belfast’s recyclable waste to local recyclers who, in turn, can reduce their financial and environmental costs by using fewer resources (raw materials, water and energy) in manufacturing products from recyclable waste bought from previously unemployed citizens.
Belfast’s cradle-to-cradle approach minimises waste production through recycling and reuse within a circular economy. The longterm objectives of Belfast’s waste recycling project are to reduce the financial and environmental costs of sending waste to landfills while uplifting impoverished local communities by creating job opportunities.
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