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Jan 1, 2024
Waste generation and management
The Integral Waste Management is part of actions realized from the operational excellence to leverage the Environmental Strategy and the Circular Economy model for Ecopetrol’s group. All these actions are developed according with national normative restrictions and internal process achieved in Ecopetrol S.A.
Ecopetrol has drawn up a roadmap to achieve the transition towards the Circular Economy, declaring it as an enabler to achieve, amongst others, the close of the cycle of materials and waste. This roadmap contains goals for the reduction and use of waste, which will make it possible to leverage circularity metrics.
From the point of view of operational excellence, the implementation of actions for the management of the integral management of generated waste focusing on the adoption, reuse and treatment of waste and preventing it from ending up in final disposal (sanitary landfills). This will fulfill our purpose "Progressive reduction of waste to final disposal by 2040" and move towards our business ambition in the framework of circularity.
During 2023 a total of 569.019 tons of waste where generated, which account for a 24% increase compared to 2022, where 114.990 tons was related with hazardous waste and 454.029 tons represents non-hazardous waste. Non-hazardous waste has a notable increase of 68% compared to the 2022 data. This increase is mainly due to: (i) a change in the reporting tool, which improves data quality and accuracy and may impact perceived trends, (ii) an increase in road construction and maintenance activities, new locations, and (iii) dismantling and abandonment activities in the Piedemonte and exploratory assets.
On the other hand, hazardous waste generation in 2023 shows a 39% decrease compared to 2022, mainly due to a reduction of oil sludge associated with: (i) lower number of periodic maintenance carried out during 2023, (ii) the implementation of oil recovery treatments present in sludges, which is subsequently reintegrated into the operations of Casabe, and (iii) the reduction of 79% of contaminated soil from spillages in relation to 2022 (due to a lower number of spillage incidents).
Hazardous waste generated, in descending order of quantity, includes: oil sludge 80.324 tons, hydrocarbon-contaminated soils 14.796 tons, and oil-based drilling cuttings 9.119 tons.
Regarding the total amount of non-hazardous waste generated, the most representative categories are: construction and demolition waste (CDW) 252.502 tons, water-based drilling cuttings 113.684 tons, and metal scrap 44.755 tons.
The information about waste management is available in the MARS-E tool which allows the monitoring of the quantities generated for each waste stream.
In 2023 the recycled/reused rate for non-disposal hazardous waste was 9%, primarily due to a 15% reduction in the generation of oil sludges in the Barrancabermeja refinery. These sludges are typically sent as fuel to cement kilns. Internal utilization is highlighted, with 51 tons of oily sludges from the Barrancabermeja refinery being utilized at the Cartagena refinery for coke production.
The recycled/reused rate for non-hazardous waste was 40%, compared to the 19% recorded in 2022. This increase is mainly due to the reuse of construction and demolition waste in internal and external road maintenance, civil construction projects, reaching a recycled/reused rate of 50%. Additionally, there was an increase in the recycling of metal scrap in the steel industry, which reached a recycled/reused rate of 99%.
Additionally in 2023 10,900 tons of non-hazardous waste were reused in new internal activities, , 4,740 tons of water-based drilling cuttings were used in construction and maintenance, and 1,215 tons of composting of organic waste from the preparation of food and plant waste originating from pruning to generate fertilizers and other by-products for internal use and delivery to stakeholders.
It is important to highlight that, regarding waste such as plastic, glass, paper, and cardboard, a recycled/reused rate of 93% was achieved through delivery to individuals or foundations that manage these materials.
This information is obtained through reports of contracting companies that carry out activities within the industrial facilities and by the company's supply area, which is responsible for operating non-industrial facilities.
In 2023, a new data gathering tool was launched, in order to improve data quality and accuracy, this change may impact perceived trends.
According to the Integral waste management guide, part of the management stages is the waste verification which involves the determination if the waste is susceptible to reduction and/or utilization. If the waste's physicochemical composition is not adequate or there is no available reuse or treatments alternatives in the market for these compounds, all the waste is sent to final disposal processes.
In 2023 the main waste sent for final disposal or elimination were:
- Construction and demolition waste (CDW)
- Water-based drilling cuttings
- Oil sludges
- Hydrocarbon-contaminated soils
Construction and demolition waste (CDW), as well as water-based drilling cuttings, are mainly disposed of in areas where excavation material is disposed of or internal/external authorized landfills.
The data also includes waste that was treated through bioremediation, such as oil sludges and hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, which constitute about 83% of the company's hazardous waste in 2023. This treatment is carried out in the installations of authorized third parties.
Hazardous waste destined for disposal is placed in cells or sanitary landfills, e.g. sludges with acidic characteristics and elements impregnated with hydrocarbons.
The collection of information for waste designated for disposal, such as oil sludges, hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, elements impregnated with hydrocarbons, and catalysts, among others, is carried out through reports from contractor companies that carry out activities within industrial facilities.
Although there is a 109.930 ton increase in solid waste generation in 2023, as a result of significant increase in activities (dismantling and construction), it is noteworthy that there is a 2% reduction in the total waste destined for disposal. This equates to 9.022 tons less than in 2022, which reaffirms our commitment to progressively reduce the amount of waste sent to final disposal.
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