Waste Generation & Waste Site Qualification

Data have been included for GE operations generating more than 100 metric tons of hazardous waste and/or more than 500 metric tons of nonhazardous industrial waste. Operations include those GE manufacturing facilities, service shops, distribution centers and research centers over which GE has operational control. Data have been collected on:

• Total hazardous waste generated and shipped off-site or managed on-site pursuant to a waste management permit or authorization
• Total nonhazardous industrial waste generated and shipped off-site or managed on-site pursuant to a waste management permit or authorization
• Waste management methods

Starting in 2009, GE began collecting data on the amount of scrap metal generated and recycled from sites that generate and recycle more than 500 metric tons annually.

GE adjusts the data each year to reflect acquisitions and divestments. In setting our internal reporting requirements, we seek to balance the usefulness of information collected with the resource effort needed to gather and report the data. Based on the analytical work performed in the development phase, the reported data represent more than 90% of global GE waste generation.

Waste Site Qualification

Regardless of whether an individual site’s data are collected as part of GE’s waste metric, we take great care to ensure that the hazardous waste GE generates is sent to recycling, treatment and disposal facilities that pass the standards set in our global Waste Site Qualification Program (WSQP). The GE WSQP standards meet or exceed federal, state and local environmental and worker safety requirements, and are generally verified through management systems reviews and/or on-site auditing. Our standards frequently require waste management sites to upgrade and improve their operations beyond local law requirements if they want to be approved for GE use. Once waste vendor sites are approved, GE continues to monitor their EHS performance through additional audits and various public information sources. Waste vendor sites with major regulatory compliance issues may be subject to improvements or rejection should they fail to continue to meet the GE WSQP standards.

In 2009, GE expanded its coverage of the WSQP to more than 50 countries where GE has manufacturing locations.

Pollution Prevention

GE teams and operations as a matter of policy are continually working to implement pollution-prevention projects where reasonably practicable. GE has integrated into its Operational Leader EHS training materials information on how to use lean manufacturing techniques to identify waste-reduction opportunities.

GE Reportable Spills

GE tracks any spill on or from a site that is reportable to regulatory authorities. Reportable spills or releases are either:

• Spills (releases) to Water: Spills or releases to a water body (e.g., stream, river, lake, pond, sea, ocean); or
• Spills (releases) Not to Water: Any other spills/releases reportable to regulatory authorities (excludes spills/releases to a water body).

In 2005, spill/release reporting metrics were divided into two categories: Spills (releases) to Water and Spills (releases) Not to Water, as defined above. Prior to establishment of the two categories in 2005, only spills/releases to water were reported. In 2007, we launched a focus program for those facilities and businesses across GE experiencing challenges with wastewater exceedance and spill/release performance. We continue to work with those sites and businesses closely to reduce and mitigate future potential occurrences.

In 2010 we had a 58% decrease in the occurrence of spills and releases globally vs. 2009.