Waste
Most industrial processes have various types of by-products. Some industrial wastes can be introduced back into the production processes, others can be used by other industries as part of industrial symbiosis. Some waste streams are sent to landfills. Some of the waste streams of ICL sites contain hazardous materials that require specialized treatment. The company tracks and manages all of its waste streams, and takes various steps to reduce waste and to identify and maximize potential reuse and recycling of relevant waste streams.
Note: In the charts below, and unlike in other environmental indicators, ICL does not use 2008 as a base year. The reason is the PRTR law in Israel, which came into effect in 2012. This law significantly expanded the streams defined as wastes in ICL’s Israeli sites. Therefore tracked waste data for 2008-11 in ICL Israel in incomparable to 2012 and onwards.
There are no clear trends in regards to the amount of waste produced in our plants. Amounts can vary greatly from year to year. The main reasons are the large amounts of wastes usually created in one-time construction/renovation projects, and certain wastes types which are accumulated in storage ponds or areas for several years before being transferred to treatment by external professional companies. Non-Haz waste quantities decreased by 16% in 2018 for such reasons.
Note that we have excluded from our non-haz waste quantities large amount of waste streams sold to recycling/reuse as raw materials- since we account these as products (however we do include waste streams where ICL pays an external treatment company which recycles the material). These excluded waste/product streams include 650-800 K tonnes of gypsum waste sold annually by ICL China YPH for re-usage, ~80 K tonnes of Ash waste sold annually by ICL Rotem for re-usage, and some other less significant streams.
Distribution of Non-Haz Waste treatment methods (%)
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste quantities can also significantly fluctuate between years, since certain wastes types are accumulated for several years before being transferred to treatment by external professional companies. In 2018, overall haz-waste quantities increased slightly (1%). This was caused by some ICL Europe sites, where there was an increase in removal of hazardous packaging material; an increase in sludge removal from on-site effluent treatment and some increased production volumes. However, this increase was almost completely countered by a reduction in filter cake removal amounts in ICL Israel.
More than 99% of hazardous waste in all ICL sites is treated in countries of origin.
Distribution of Haz Waste treatment methods (%)
Most of the waste streams are either directly treated by ICL, or treated by an external certified vendor- with whom the disposal method is directly confirmed. For some specific waste streams, the information is provided by a recognized waste disposal contractor.
Circular Economy in ICL Rotem: Finding new solutions to by-products
ICL Rotem has created a business unit dedicated to viewing its byproducts in a new light and finding value in what previously were byproducts or waste streams of the production process. These byproducts contain viable and valuable minerals, such as Fluorine, Silica, Sulphur, Calcium Carbonate, and Calcium Sulphate. The byproduct unit is searching for possible business partners and opportunities, that will help ICL close the loop and re-use the byproducts as raw materials.
Read MoreEliminating single-use plastics in ICL Israel
As an industrial company, ICLs main environmental impacts are usually derived of its production processes. However, the company also sees value in raising ts day-to-day sustainability awareness of all its employees. As part of this effort, in early 2019, the company has eliminated single-use plastics (cups, plates, cutlery, etc.) from all kitchens, dining rooms and coffee areas in all production sites and offices in ICL Israel. The company has replaced these with un-disposable kitchen equipment, has increased the cleaning services, and has supplied a personal multi-use water bottle to each employee. In this matter, ICL hopes to contribute to the growing global efforts to reduce plastic waste, and reduce its influence on life on land and at sea.
