At Nobian's salt plant in Mariager, Denmark, 2022
At our salt plant in Mariager, Denmark, a focused initiative under the title ZeroWaste@
Mariager has resulted in an increased recycling rate, from 40% in 2021 to 77% of all generated waste in 2022. At the same time, we decreased the amount of incinerated waste (with heat recovery) and the fraction sent to landfill significantly.
Waste stream mapping, colleague engagement and close collaboration with existing and potential new waste handlers was a central focus, but an essential part of this success involved working on soft skills and increasing organizational awareness through waste workshops with all employees.
The journey started in 2021, mapping and looking into possibilities for more recycling. Waste disposal costs, the extent of our waste, and the potential for increased compression for optimal storage and disposal were all investigated to minimize the environmental impact of transportation. Waste communication was a key factor in ensuring sustainable and long-lasting improvements. We put a great deal of effort into making it easy for people to sort waste correctly by making them aware of our reasoning and by communicating details of the new sorting regime clearly.
At the end of that year, we assessed the identified opportunities and conducted disposal trials in collaboration with waste handlers. Then we were ready to carry out the final recommendations – 2022 was the year of implementation, adjustment and consolidation. In 2023 we took the next steps, looking at how much of our waste goes to incineration.