Environmental GRI Performance Indicators
EN22 – Total weight of waste by type and disposal method.
Our Impacts
Our operations produce mostly non-hazardous wastes consisting of paper, scrap metals, package materials and construction-related materials. Typically, our operations generate only limited amounts of hazardous wastes. Overall, we make every effort to reduce our waste volumes, regardless of hazard classification, through measurement and management programs at our various facilities.
Our Performance
We minimize the amount of waste from our operations, wherever possible, by reducing the amount of waste we generate or by finding beneficial ways to reuse waste by-products.
One of our priorities is to promote consistent waste management practices across our businesses.
The development of waste management tracking and training programs helps our employees not only meet regulations, but more effectively recover waste.
Waste management and minimization in the U.S.
Liquids Pipelines’ operations in the U.S. completed plans for the management of waste across all operating areas. These plans provide users readily available, searchable, site-specific guidance to help ensure sound waste management handling and disposal.
Our Gas Transportation business published a comprehensive Waste Minimization and Management Plan, a one-stop reference to assist operating personnel in determining the best practices for handling all types of waste generated at Enbridge facilities. We wrote the plan from a field perspective, providing step-by-step procedures for managing waste – from identification and testing, to handling and properly disposing of waste, as well as how to minimize waste by eliminating, reducing in volume and/or toxicity, recycling or reclaiming generated waste whenever possible.
Waste management and minimization in Canada
In 2007, Liquids Pipelines operations in Canada initiated the first major revision of the Enbridge Waste Management Plan, which was drafted in 2004. The process is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2008. The Waste Management Plan is a single-source reference to assist operating personnel in determining the best practices for handling all types of waste generated at Enbridge facilities.
Also in 2007, Enbridge Gas Distribution ended its practice of supplying Styrofoam cups at employee coffee stations. The decision followed an online survey in which the majority of employees said they supported doing away with Styrofoam cups. Eliminating Styrofoam (or any type of disposable cup) is consistent with our commitment to reducing waste and to sound environmental practices. Enbridge’s Calgary office followed suit in 2008.
Tracking waste at Enbridge Gas Distribution
In 2007, Enbridge Gas Distribution generated 1,168 tonnes of non-hazardous waste. Of this total, 532 tonnes, or approximately 44 per cent of the total weight, were diverted from landfill.
Enbridge Gas Distribution reports liquid and solid hazardous waste materials to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment’s Hazardous Waste Information Network. In 2007, we reported 590,349 litres of liquid hazardous waste, compared with just over 150,500 litres reported in 2006. The increase in 2007 was primarily due to the disposal of 381,817 litres of liquid waste during installation of a pipeline to deliver gas to a new natural gas fired, combined-cycle generation facility in Toronto. This included the removal of contaminated water in the excavated area as well as disposal of waste drilling fluid from horizontal directional drilling for the project. We also reported 21 tonnes of solid hazardous waste in 2007, compared with just over 11.5 tonnes in 2006. This included the disposal of five tonnes of equipment that contained mercury, all of which was sent to an accredited hazardous waste management facility for dismantling and mercury recovery. We also disposed of six tonnes of old pipe with PCB-containing coal tar coating. This work, which was carried out by a leading industrial waste management company, entailed removing the coating and disposing of it safely and separately from the steel pipe.