Waste

Our production activities generate solid and liquid waste, including hazardous waste such as oily sludge, waste chemicals, and catalysts. Examples of non-hazardous waste include excavated soil, if not containing dangerous substances, as well as mixed municipal waste, paper and metal.

In addition, as a producer of plastics, we are deeply aware of the issue of plastic waste. Too often, unmanaged plastic waste is dumped in unsanitary landfills or burned, therefore increasing the risk of leakage into waterways, lakes, or oceans and thus causing negative impacts on the environment, marine life, and, potentially, human health. This section of the Sustainability Report focuses on waste management in our operations. For more on end-of-life waste, please see the focus area Circular Economy.

Specific Policies and Commitments

According to OMV’s Environmental Management Standard, all OMV Group businesses and activities are required to identify and use the least hazardous material option and to minimize both the use of raw materials and the subsequent generation of waste. The following hierarchy is applied to controlling waste: prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling, other recovery (e.g., energy recovery), and, lastly, disposal in a controlled manner. The disposal of liquids in landfills and the burning of solid and liquid materials in open burning pits or any other location are not permitted.

The OMV Group’s Environmental Management Standard further requires that environmental and social components be identified for the entire life cycle of facilities, including decommissioning and abandonment, so that any future adaptation measures can be identified and planned for. The needs of local communities, including indigenous peoples, are incorporated and addressed throughout all phases of the project life cycle, including during decommissioning or abandonment.

Management and Due Diligence Processes

Application of Best Practices

International industry best practice is applied for the management and treatment of waste, including drilling waste. Where existing local, regional, or national waste management facilities are inadequate, OMV supports third parties in developing their capability.

Recycling

Waste is recovered and recycled where possible, including during site closure and decommissioning. If recycling is not possible, all waste is processed and/or disposed of only in licensed facilities or via reputable licensed contractors. Waste contractors are regularly audited.

2022 Actions

The following key activities were carried out across the Group in 2022:

Waste Recovery or Recycling Rate

In %

• 77% of OMV’s total waste comes from OMV Petrom. OMV Petrom continued to work on site restoration at the remaining two depots in Constanța and Oradea, and started the site restoration of the former Zalău ANRS petroleum products terminal. Over the past few years, 39 former fuel terminals have already been restored, with sites having been remediated to initial preoperational state. In addition to the 222,000 m³ of soil/subsoil contaminated with petroleum products generated and treated over previous years, around 27,575 m³ of additional contaminated soil was exca­vated and treated in 2022. The treatment is performed using site-specific methods in line with best practice (e.g., bioremediation technologies off site and on site with injection). We achieved a recovery rate of 99% for the contaminated soil treated, which we then used for on-site backfills or directed to other authorized locations. We performed periodic monitoring during and after site rehabilitation, as requested for each site by environmental authorities. The site status (e.g., land covered by grass, soil compaction) is monitored quarterly for one year after our works are finalized. The decontamination work on the former petroleum products terminal in Constanța was carried out in close collaboration and alongside the archeological research conducted by the Museum of National History and Archeology Constanța (MINAC). This was done according to national legislation, and due to the site’s high archaeological potential. During the archeological survey, many artefacts of historical significance were also discovered.
• OMV Tunisia has focused more on waste reuse and recycling solutions. For instance, old tires are turned into garden planters, thereby avoiding disposal. In addition, a waste management plan for the Waha Central Processing Facility was issued and upgrade actions for its hazardous waste area were implemented accordingly. A composter to reduce and recycle food waste will be installed in 2023.

Outlook

As part of our Strategy 2030, we plan to increase the reuse and recycling of waste from operations. In 2023, we plan to review the Waste Management Plans across the OMV Group.