Translations

SITA-GDF SUEZ is developing an environmental quality indicator for Waste Storage Facilities

4. Environment

Waste management

Sector Energy / Water

Year 2010

Country France

Transmitter

Context

In order to closely monitor how well biodiversity concerns are being integrated by management at its various sites, SITA FRANCE has developed an environmental quality indicator for waste storage facilities (WSFs).

SITA FRANCE would eventually like to apply this method to all currently operating waste storage facilities, as well as its largest closed sites. In this way, the effectiveness of actions taken by the company to protect biodiversity will be monitored, visible and comprehensible to the public.

Objectives

Provide a standardized diagnostic method for measuring the quality of biodiversity at a particular site;
Track changes in biodiversity at a given site over time, and thereby evaluate the biodiversity performance of each storage facility.

APPROACH

Each site that is assessed will be given a score out of 100 (<20 = Very Low EQI; ³80 = Very High EQI), based on the standardized field evaluation of 9 variables addressing the following areas: Quality of surroundings; Functionality; Diversity, Abundance; Alteration.

The assessment of each variable will be used to identify strong and weak points with respect to biodiversity protection at a given site. This will make it possible to identify areas for improvement and to take action, if necessary, to improve the environmental quality of the site, and thus the EQI score.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Between 2008 and 2009, following the implementation of Biodiversity Management Plans at 11 Sita sites in the Ile de France region, the average EQI score of these sites rose from 47.5 (Average) to 55.3 (approaching High). These preliminary results indicate that the EQI is effective for monitoring changes in WSF management methods, and that the actions being taken are effective.

Benefits

Increase respect for the environment at operational and re-engineered sites and protect biodiversity; take corrective actions; measure the results.
Obtain site personnel buy-in for biodiversity preservation through the simplified representation of site environmental quality.