Waste recovery

Azucarera El Viejo is a zero-waste company; it recovers practically 100% of the waste (99.9%) produced by the plant.

For several years, one of the company’s primary goals is for its waste not to reach landfills, thus contributing to the conservation of the environment.

As promoters of environmental development, El Viejo manages its waste as follows:

• Use of the bagasse as biomass fuel for the boilers
• Use of filter cake as fertilizer: 30 tons of filter cake or cachaça are applied per hectare. In 2016, it was used in 1,082 hectares, which represents a total of 32,460 tons of well-used filter cake. Additionally, ashes are applied on the field.
• Return of waste to suppliers: 163 tons of our waste are returned to the suppliers for suitable final disposal, which corresponds to 0.04% of the total waste.
• We separate and send for recycling more than 629 tons of waste and only 0.1% of waste material is not recoverable or sent to a landfill.
• Treatment of hazardous waste: we produce 0.28% of hazardous waste and we treat it at 100% (batteries, fluorescent bulbs, tires, oils and other materials used in the lab). These products are transported to an authorized waste manager, with the corresponding permit.
• Certification of final disposal: 65% of the waste guidelines have certificates of final disposal.
• Use of organic waste to feed pigs and to produce organic fertilizer.