EnviroServ’s sustainable development targets create a safer environment for people and planet

With a renewed drive for sustainable development and creating shared value for customers, EnviroServ, a leader in waste and wastewater management, is working towards achieving milestones across three key areas.

EnviroServ, a SUEZ company, has aligned with the global group’s sustainable development priorities across the pillars of climate, nature and social.

“Ambitious targets were set based on analysis of the industrial realities of EnviroServ’s activities, using global external benchmarks to identify best practices,” said EnviroServ CEO Dean Thompson.

The company’s stated goals include reducing its greenhouse gas emissions at its six waste management facilities by 60% by 2028; doubling the amount of renatured and restored capped landfill areas by 2027 using 100% indigenous species; reducing the frequency and severity rate of accidents, and growing the number of people trained in the workforce to 76% by 2028.

Climate pillar

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has reported that methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is at least 28 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere over 100 years. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, cutting methane emissions by 45 percent by 2030 could help meet the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

EnviroServ is playing its role in contributing to energy decarbonisation by adapting its most vulnerable waste management facilities. By capping the working face of a landfill as soon as possible, the smallest amount of surface area is exposed to the environment, minimising the risk of odours and methane that is released while reducing the amount of contaminated stormwater and leachate. “Adapting our sites using international best practice has resulted in a 19% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions since 2022, so we have already made a significant stride towards our 60% goal for 2028,” said Thompson.  

Biogas feasibility studies have been done at waste management facilities Shongweni in Hillcrest, Chloorkop in Johannesburg and Vissershok in Cape Town looking at carbon credit reductions where EnviroServ can carbon trade. “We also hope to double the volume of landfill gas which is currently being flared at Chloorkop and Shongweni to reduce emissions.”

Nature pillar

Almost 26 hectares of land will be renatured across EnviroServ’s operating sites as the company plans to double the amount of land restored by 2027. Within the same timeline, no phytosanitary products will be used in any of the company’s green spaces or facilities.

“Through improved training and reporting we are targeting a five percent improvement in waste sorting efficiency, which is essential in the recovery of recycled waste. Proper separation and categorisation of waste at source minimises the amount sent to landfill, conserving resources and reducing environmental impacts.”

Social pillar

EnviroServ is tracking well against health and safety benchmarks, with frequency and severity accident rates already well below the Group’s global targets. “We will continue to contribute to the sustainable development of the communities in which we operate, maintaining 50% spend among local small business suppliers and growing development of employees through training programmes from 63% to 76% by 2027”.

“As a business operating in the environmental space, we are taking our share of responsibility for the preservation of resources and people, and are working to position ourselves as best-in-class," said Thompson. “We have kicked off this journey by disclosing baseline figures and will share updates on how the business is tracking towards our stated targets. These commitments are a powerful driver for our employees and we are proud that we have already seen tangible results.”