Company operating at the Port of Santos reduces landfill waste by 63%

A company operating at the Port of Santos claims to have reduced landfill waste by 63% in just one year, between January and December 2024. Santos Brasil, which operates a container terminal on the Left Bank in Guarujá and logistics centers in Santos and Vicente de Carvalho, reached a goal originally set for 2026. However, the company did not disclose the volume of waste generated last year. It did state that, over the past four years, it reduced organic waste by 187 tons.

In 2024, the company launched the “Zero Landfill” project, aiming to eliminate landfill disposal by 2028. The project is structured around four main pillars: treatment of organic waste with biodigesters, energy recovery through Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), recycling and reverse logistics, and encouragement of reusable materials, such as bottles and mugs, among employees.

The implementation of biodigesters, which operate at Santos Brasil units with cafeterias, transforms organic waste into greywater that can be reused. Additionally, non-recyclable waste is sent to industrial kilns for energy recovery.

Santos Brasil’s environmental sustainability coordinator, Sônia Hermsdorff, said the Zero Landfill program officially began in 2024, although waste management initiatives have been in place since 2021. She noted that the biodigester processes organic waste, such as peels and food scraps, turning them into a dark, water-based effluent that is treated and reused primarily for washing yards and equipment. “Everything is reprocessed in a closed cycle, generating no waste in the end.”

The savings from transportation and final waste disposal reached around R$ 518,000, while R$ 329,000 was invested in the biodigesters.

Environmental law specialist attorney Marcos Paulo Marques Araújo emphasized the relevance of waste reduction projects in the port sector, which historically generates large volumes of waste. “This initiative goes beyond the port sector, as it involves a logistical restructuring of waste management. The use of biodigesters and recycling are key strategies,” he said.

He also stated that projects like Zero Landfill can serve as a model for other logistics companies, promoting a circular economy in which one company’s waste becomes another’s raw material.
“This approach not only reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills but also improves operational efficiency and corporate sustainability. The fewer the landfilled residues, the longer the lifespan of these sites,” he said.

Project is part of Santos Brasil’s Climate Transition Plan
The Zero Landfill Project is part of Santos Brasil’s Climate Transition Plan, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. To achieve this target, several initiatives are in place, including the replacement of diesel-powered cranes with electric models and the installation of photovoltaic panels at company sites.

The company explains that the project’s results are monitored through environmental indicators, including the amount of waste sent to landfills, recycled, and treated internally.
“We are committed to ensuring our waste is managed responsibly and sustainably,” said Sônia Hermsdorff.

Awareness
Santos Brasil also promotes internal practices among employees. Environmental, Pharmaceutical, and Chemical Management Coordinator Mirian de Almeida Lauretti explains that the Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) department is responsible for organizing training and awareness campaigns.

“Through events such as the Internal Week for the Prevention of Work Accidents and the Environment (SIPATMA) and Environment Day, we aim to engage our employees in the importance of waste management,” said Mirian Lauretti.

Source: A Tribuna

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