07.06.2022
RUSAL approved the Strategy for the management of production waste
Moscow, 07 June, 2022 – The Board of Directors of RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, approved the Strategy for the management of production waste until 2030. It is based on the “Zero waste to landfill” approach, an ambitious strategy for the metals and mining sector.
The goal of the Strategy is to reduce (or even eliminate) waste generation. It can be achieved through the introduction of the best available technologies and a phased transition to utilisation, recycling and selling products from waste. Such an approach should ensure that by 2030 at least 95% of aluminium and silicon production wastes will be included in the Company’s turnover and processing (an increase of more than 20%) and at least 65% of the alumina production (excluding mineral waste and overburden grounds), which is an increase of more than 2.5 times compared to 2020 levels.
Special attention in the Strategy is given to safe operations of waste disposal facilities (WDF) (38 facilities worldwide). RUSAL will resume environmental monitoring, surveys and evaluation of work for each operated and mothballed waste disposal facility. Until 2025 the Company plans to assess the works to ensure the reliable technical condition, including the planned reclamation of residue disposal areas.
The Strategy contains a detailed plan for the complete decommission of equipment and waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls no later than by 2025. This commitment is fully in line with the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Even today, RUSAL sends more than two thirds of its production waste for recycling (excluding bauxite and nepheline residue and overburden) on its own or by an authorized contractor. Reducing waste disposal give significant economic effect for the Company and provides additional revenue.
“RUSAL puts a priority on minimizing the industrial waste generation and ensuring that waste is returned to a closed economic cycle – reuse or recycling within our own production or in other industries,” said Irina Bakhtina, Chief Sustainability Officer of RUSAL.
The goal of the Strategy is to reduce (or even eliminate) waste generation. It can be achieved through the introduction of the best available technologies and a phased transition to utilisation, recycling and selling products from waste. Such an approach should ensure that by 2030 at least 95% of aluminium and silicon production wastes will be included in the Company’s turnover and processing (an increase of more than 20%) and at least 65% of the alumina production (excluding mineral waste and overburden grounds), which is an increase of more than 2.5 times compared to 2020 levels.
Special attention in the Strategy is given to safe operations of waste disposal facilities (WDF) (38 facilities worldwide). RUSAL will resume environmental monitoring, surveys and evaluation of work for each operated and mothballed waste disposal facility. Until 2025 the Company plans to assess the works to ensure the reliable technical condition, including the planned reclamation of residue disposal areas.
The Strategy contains a detailed plan for the complete decommission of equipment and waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls no later than by 2025. This commitment is fully in line with the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Even today, RUSAL sends more than two thirds of its production waste for recycling (excluding bauxite and nepheline residue and overburden) on its own or by an authorized contractor. Reducing waste disposal give significant economic effect for the Company and provides additional revenue.
“RUSAL puts a priority on minimizing the industrial waste generation and ensuring that waste is returned to a closed economic cycle – reuse or recycling within our own production or in other industries,” said Irina Bakhtina, Chief Sustainability Officer of RUSAL.
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