Waste Management

Using it Again

Syncrude has a variety of measures in place to encourage or require the recycling of waste in the workplace. To ensure safe and proper disposal, for example, collection points have been established in all auto shops for spent leadacid batteries. Syncrude also participates in the international battery recycle program, Call2recycle, which ships all rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries to a recycling facility to be broken down and used in new products.

Waste oil, cardboard and paper, oil filters, and other common materials also are recycled. the recycling of beverage cans and bottles across the site is encouraged, with proceeds donated to the United Way. Another program collects used printer cartridges-up to 1,000 a year-which are donated to the Edmonton Food Bank and then sold for cash. And another recycles fluorescent light bulbs; thousands are shipped to Edmonton each year where mercury is removed and glass and metal recycled.

Syncrude's industrial operation creates waste.

Syncrude recycles or reuses waste materials of all kinds, and captures value from byproducts and co-products of our operation.


12,080
tonnes of waste
recycled or reused
in 2007 
Waste Management
2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Waste Recycled/Reused—Solid (tonnes) 1 12,080 17,720 15,630 18,180 15,380
Waste Recycled/Reused—Liquid (cubic metres) 2 2,653 3,070 3,360 3,040 3,010
Waste—Solid Hazardous sent for offsite treatment or destruction (cubic metres) 18 2.5 14 19 73
Waste—Liquid Hazardous sent for offsite treatment or destruction (cubic metres) 4.0 6.5 5.0 38.3 4.1
Waste Disposal—Onsite Industrial Non-Hazardous (tonnes) 61,862 32,760 28,680 33,320 61,730
Waste Disposal—Onsite Sanitary Non-Hazardous (tonnes) 1,712 2,000 2,880 2,350 1,900
  1. Includes catalyst, scrap metal, tires, conveyor belting and batteries; catalyst recycle volumes in 2007 are lower due to reduced catalyst use.
  2. Includes used oil, used solvents and glycol. Starting in 2007, glycol is disposed.