ZERO WASTE TO LANDFILL BECOMES A REALITY AT OUR SANTOS PORT

When you finish breakfast, how much time do you spend thinking about what’s left behind in the bowl? At our Santos port in Brazil, we take our responsibility to manage food waste seriously. The way we’ve changed how we deal with food at our on-site cafeterias gives an insight into our broader thinking on ways to reduce waste. We're reusing all kinds of waste, and all organic materials go to composting or processing, so nothing is discarded.

These waste management strategies now apply to all the waste we generate. By harnessing the power of technology and combining it with nature, we’ve made our port the first in Brazil to become “Aterro Zero”, (Portuguese for “zero landfill”).

Santos is one of the largest and most modern multipurpose ports and terminals in the country, and we take recycling very seriously. Reducing what we send to landfills matters as well. According to the World Bank, the volume of waste the world generates is forecasted to increase to 3.4 billion tons by 2050, from 2 billion tons in 2016. Brazil has 1,700 landfills and 3,000 dumps or irregular landfills, and they’re filling up rapidly. Effective waste management strategies are more critical than ever.

Zero waste management examples

Recycling is at the heart of our zero landfill project. On average, 39% of the 140 tons of waste produced each month is recycled, while another 20% is transformed into fuel, according to our latest available data from February 2022.

Whatever we can’t recycle, we focus on turning into thermal energy so that zero waste goes to landfills. We use a technology called CDRU, an acronym in Portuguese that stands for Combustível Derivado de Resíduos Urbanos, or Fuel Derived from Urban Waste.

Toilet paper is one item that can’t be recycled, but it can be turned into fuel for kilns that power cement manufacturing. The benefits of zero waste management strategies, including CDRU, extend beyond reducing landfill waste. By converting rubbish into fuel the need for fossil fuels decreases, promoting further sustainability solutions.

Ways to reduce waste with composting

The remaining 41% of our waste is managed through more zero waste management methods, including wastewater treatment, co-processing, composting, oil re-refining, and reverse logistics.

Our food scraps and organic materials become compost, and we use a biodigester to process and digest other food leftovers.

Even before adopting a zero-waste-to-landfill policy, we were already diverting three-quarters of our waste away from landfills. We are proud of how we treat and reuse all the waste at our Santos Port. Our efforts support our broader sustainability targets based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and help create a circular, more sustainable economy.

Smarter trade isn’t just about moving goods more intelligently and efficiently; it’s about creating a better future for all and protecting the environment as well. We’re changing what’s possible for everyone—download our Smarter Trade Report 2022 to learn more.