Southern California Edison manages several different types of waste, including solid, industrial, hazardous and nuclear. We have active programs in place to address the specific environment hazards potentially posed by each.
To manage traditional solid waste, such as paper, plastics, glass and green wastes, SCE launched the Waste Not program (see below) in 1995. The utility also generates industrial wastes, including waste generated from oil spills. SCE is dedicated to removing all visible signs of oil and oily debris according to the strict state and federal regulatory guidelines.
Hazardous wastes produced during utility operations are managed following the strict State and Federal regulations. SCE uses a management system that accurately identifies and disposes of hazardous waste in a proper, protective manner.
Nuclear waste is generated during the course of operations at the San Onofre Generating Station. Effectively managing the wastes reduces the impact it has on the environment. In addition to managing wastes, SCE actively encourages employees to think of ways to reduce and reuse all wastes generated at the company.
The Waste-Not Program
After SCE employees crawled inside trash dumpsters and found three-ring notebooks, staplers, pens, pencils, folders and even electric calculators -- dumped by departing employees -- the utility's Waste-Not program began.
The program pilot began in 1993 and has grown into a trademarked corporate program that focuses on waste prevention, green purchasing, reuse and recycling.
Creative and energetic educational programs are a critical component of the Waste-Not program. SCE employees can read about recycling information in company news publications, and can even learn about Waste-Not through the Web.
Waste reduction has become a fundamental part of Southern California Edison's corporate culture. SCE publishes electronic copies of operations manuals and location maps and distributes corporate memos through e-mail to reduce paper waste and printing costs. Employees save over $5 million in solid waste hauling fees each year through Waste-Not's prevention and recycling activities.
Employees recycle glass, plastic, metal, wood, toner cartridges and paper in workspace and field collection bins. In 2000, 90% of all the waste materials generated by SCE were recycled and employees reduced enough greenhouse gas emissions through prevention and recycling programs to provide power to over 5000 households in California for one year. |
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