Waste from the integrated water system
[GRI - 103-3],
[GRI - 306-1],
[GRI - 306-2],
[GRI - 306-3],
[GRI - 306-4],
[GRI - 306-5],
In the Water Business, the production of waste largely corresponds with the production of sludge from the treatment process, and to a lesser extent, with sand and screens used in the same process. The former is essentially composed of water, biomass and a portion of chemical substances used for conditioning during drying, which helps to reduce the volumes of waste outputs. Sands and screens originate from the pre-treatment of wastewater, and contain plastic, aggregates and paper materials. The remainder is composed of residual material from cleaning to maintain systems. This may include sludge from regeneration of cation-exchange resins. Chart no. 58 shows an example of waste streams for the water sector. All companies in the segment are involved in the recovery of sludge with 81% of all sludge produced recovered (at 66% in 2022). Specifically, in 2023 AdF recovered 90%, Acea Ato 2 recovered 89%, Gori recovered 78% and Acea Ato 5 recovered 34%.
Chart no. 58 – Waste streams for the Water Business companies
Table no. 73 – Waste produced by Water Business companies (2021-2023)
| Water Segment waste | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| t | |||
| total waste |
176,702 |
183,562 |
182,840 |
| hazardous |
379 |
208 |
193 |
| non-hazardous | 176,323 |
183,354 |
182,646 |
| of which sludge, sand and screens |
167,182 |
175,711 |
173,057 |
| detail by type of processing | |||
| entirely recovered waste |
110,169 |
115,181 |
134,679 |
| of which sludge, sand and screens for recovery (*) |
108,767 |
113,595 |
131,661 |
| entirely disposed of waste (*) |
66,533 |
68,381 |
48,160 |
| of which sludge, sand and screens for disposal (**) | 58,415 | 62,116 | 41,395 |
| incineration (with energy recovery) |
2,919 |
1,304 |
438 |
| incineration |
5,351 |
5,486 |
3,235 |
| landfill and other disposal operations |
58,264 |
61,590 |
44,488 |
(*) In 2023, 124,782 t of sludge and 6,879 t of sand and screens were sent for recovery.
(**) In 2023, the following was sent for disposal: 30,121 t of sludge and 11,274 t of sand and screens.
Aquaser acts as a broker for certain Group water companies (Acea Ato 2, Acea Ato 5 and AdF), carrying out the pick-up, transport and recovery/disposal of waste (solid and liquid), with identifica- tion of final-destination sites for special waste with regard to solid materials, and providing logistical services (pick-up, transport and discharge) for liquid waste that is handed over to authorised plants.