Hazardous waste

 

Hazardous waste originates primarily from chemical and pharmaceutical production processes.

 

Hazardous waste to landfill decreased from 519t to 99t. This was achieved in waste handling, as well as improvements in waste quality and clarification of waste types. In 2007, disposal routes for hazardous operational waste were mainly incineration (63%), treatment (19%) and recycling (18%). Disposal in landfills was reduced to 0.06% of the total.

 

Hazardous waste targets and outlook

Novartis globally puts a high priority on avoiding hazardous waste deposits in landfills, limiting it to those types of inert waste for which no other disposal route exists.

In 2007, Novartis achieved the global target set in 2005, of 100t or less of hazardous waste to landfill by 2008. Further reduction of the remaining amounts is already planned. For 2008, all Divisions and Business Units have the target of reducing any organic hazardous waste to landfill to zero.