Vestas by the numbers
Better waste management
The volume of waste, including the volume of waste sent to recycling, is considered a key indicator of how Vestas affects the environment. Vestas endeavours not to generate any waste. The volume of waste should be viewed relative to the production and delivery of turbines.
The infrastructure for recycling Vestas' waste, which consists primarily of sand, metals, wood, paper, oil, plastic and composites, has not been developed to the same level in all countries in which Vestas operates.
The recycling of composites used in the blades represents the final, huge challenge. About half of Vestas' waste measured in tonnes is sand from the moulding processes. All sand used in the production is reused a number of times before it finally ends up as waste.
Vestas' waste generation has decreased from 2012Q1 to 2013Q1. Lower activity level in the first quarter of 2013 compared to same first quarter 2012 as well as the closure of the factories in Hohhot, China and Olvega, Spain and the sales of the tower factory in Varde, Denmark are the main reasons for the reduction of waste generation.
On average over the last four quarters, Vestas facilities worldwide succeeded in producing 25.6 percent less waste per wind turbine than they did on average the previous quarter.
Vestas facilities worldwide also produced an average of 42.5 percent less hazardous waste per wind turbine over the last four quarters compared with the previous quarter's average.
Vestas facilities worldwide succeeded in recycling more waste on average over the last four quarters. Worldwide, the company recycled 53.9 percent of its waste, up from 50.8 percent on average the previous quarter
A note about the numbers: In most cases, the numbers presented here are based on either annual or four-quarter rolling averages. For example, the total displayed for the second quarter of 2010 actually represents an average of that quarter and the three quarters before it. This is done to smooth out seasonal variations in production and supply, to more accurately show trends in resource use at Vestas. Injuries and employment information are the only aspects not calculated on a rolling basis.