RESULTS
The industrial waste generated by Heineken decreased by several percent from
108,000 tonnes in 2000 to 101,000 tonnes in 2001. The regions outside Europe account
ed for the bulk of this waste. The largest reduction from 2000 to 2001, amounting to
over 6,000 tonnes, was recorded in Asia. In Papua New Guinea, for example, a local
market was found in 2001 for part of the output of brewers grains, which until then had
been sent to landfill, reducing the volume of industrial waste by around 3,000 tonnes.
A reduction of 8.5 tonnes was achieved in Europe, due to more efficient separation of
waste streams and the sale or closure of five plants. A waste separation programme
was launched in Slovakia, designed to recover a higher percentage of recyclable waste,
and a local market was found there for surplus yeast. Useful applications are also being
found in the Netherlands for a growing number of waste products, including the sludge
produced by the waste water-treatment plants. Almost all of the building waste gener
ated by maintenance work in the Netherlands is recycled.
A separate category of waste is formed by a small quantity of non-process-related
hazardous waste, including batteries, used paint, fluorescent tubes and used oil.
6.10 Incidents
Despite our efforts to protect the environment, a number of incidents occurred in 2000
and 2001:
2000
When, after complaining repeatedly about the discharge of waste water from the
nearby brewery, the local community in Enugu (Nigeria) announced that it intended to
take legal action, Heineken agreed to divert the waste water to a second, new brewery,
which was then at the planning stage, for treatment at its waste-water treatment plant.
Pending completion of the new brewery, close contact was maintained with the local
community.
In Lagos (Nigeria) a minister from a church close to the brewery complained that waste
water was polluting his water source. A local independent environmental consultant
retained by Heineken to investigate the situation found the minister's allegation to be
incorrect, but advised that the waste watershould be discharged at a different point.
Since construction of a new water treatment plant is planned, this recommendation has
not been taken up.
In November, a storage tank being filled with sulphuric acid at Mons-en-Baroeul (France)
overflowed because it was not fitted with a liquid level controller, allowing around 10 m3
of acid to enter the waste water stream. The authorities were notified immediately and
there were no personal injuries or material damage. The tank in question has now been
fitted with a level controller.
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