Eaton Plant Achieves Zero Waste to Landfill

Eaton’s aerospace facility in South Molton, UK, has achieved zero waste-to-landfill through strategies such as recycling, re-use and new work processes.

The company is encouraging its manufacturing sites to achieve zero waste-to-landfill as part of its waste management program and also as a means to reduce the release of carbon dioxide.

In 2013, Eaton reduced its landfilled wastes by about 18 percent, or 4,900 metric tons, as part of a global zero waste-to-landfill program. Together, more than 40 Eaton sites around the world have eliminated 2,500 metric tons of CO2, which is released during the transportation and storage of landfilled wastes.

Eaton defines zero waste-to-landfill as consistently achieving a landfill waste diversion rate of 98 percent through either reuse, composting, recycling, or incineration — but only if the heat generated by incineration is collected and used in order to create more energy than was required for the incineration process. Eaton zero-waste sites undergo an intensive audit process that includes verifying that at least 98 percent of a site’s waste is diverted consistently for three months.