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Van Gansewinkel Groep

Van Gansewinkel Groep (VGG) is a waste service provider as well as a raw materials and energy supplier with approximately 7,000 employees. Headquartered in Benelux, the Van Gansewinkel Groep is also active in Germany, France, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary.

Van Gansewinkel Groep sees waste as the foundation for new raw materials and energy. With their subsidiaries – Van Gansewinkel, Coolrec, Maltha, Van Gansewinkel Minerals and AVR – they have active operations across the entire waste chain.

Key Environmental Performance Areas:

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Green Energy)
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Fleet)

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Green Energy)

While VGG has been measuring and reporting its efforts to generate energy from waste and other biomaterials for many years, in 2010, VGG began actively measuring and managing its green energy production as part of the Green Portfolio Program. Its focus has been on increasing the amount of energy it is producing and selling to nearby customers and neighboring cities from two facilities, AVR Duiven and AVR Rozenburg.

In absolute terms, in 2010 and 2011, green electricity generated by the VGG facility resulted in the avoidance of almost 559,000 metric tons of GHG emissions and earned approximately €58.6 million, or approximately $76.6 million, in revenue for energy sold to third parties. Over the same time period, net efficiency—defined as produced heat and sold electricity divided by the energy content of waste and biomass throughput—declined by almost one percent, partially due to the effects of a mild winter and a non-functioning turbine for part of 2011. Plans for 2012 and 2013 are expected to improve net efficiency by increasing the amount of heat in the form of water and steam that is ultimately delivered to customers.

Results

VGG: Green Energy Production (2010 Baseline)1

Actions

In 2011, VGG achieved these results by implementing the following practices:

• Maximized heat and steam production and capture to increase internal efficiency
• Created infrastructure to improve and increase delivery of heat to cities, such as Rotterdam and Arnhem
• Recuperated “rest heat” and channeled it into city heating resources

Future Plans

In 2012 and 2013, VGG will continue to focus on delivering green energy to customers. As such, the company is considering or actively implementing the following practices:

• Beginning to build the heat pipeline (hot water) to households in the Rotterdam area
• Beginning to build the steam pipeline to adjacent industries in the Rotterdam area
• Designing and building an extension heat supply (hot water) in the Arnhem area

For more information on these efforts, see pages 32-33 in VGG’s annual report.

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Fleet)

In 2010, Van Gansewinkel Groep began actively measuring the fuel efficiency of its waste collection truck fleet as part of the Green Portfolio Program. The scope of these data includes the waste collection business with movable bins, which makes up approximately 80% of the collection fleet. In absolute terms, GHG emissions from the collection fleet increased by almost 4% compared to a 2010 baseline. Over the same time period, efficiency declined by approximately 2% (GHGs/assignment). Due to the decline in efficiency and combined with a significant increase in fuel costs, VGG’s fuel spend increased by more than an estimated €154,000. However, due to the merger of Veolia in Belgium in 2011 the figures of 2010 and 2011 are less comparable. Also the decline in efficiency can be attributed to changes in the Dutch market and a decline in the demand for waste collection, resulting in sub-optimal routings; however, analysis of the latter half of 2011 indicates a turnaround in this trend.

Results

VGG: Fleet GHG Efficiency (2010 Baseline)

Actions

In 2011, VGG implemented a number of fleet projects, including:

• Installed on-board monitoring systems that support waste guidance documents, customer data, billing, and GPS positioning
• Integrated new planning software for improved route optimization
• Implemented an eco-driver training program to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, while also improving safe behaviors on the road

Future Plans

In order to improve its efficiency performance, in 2012 and 2013, VGG is continuing to focus on improving the efficiency of its fleet through the following activities:

• Further optimizing the fleet’s routing and schedules
• Piloting a mechanical device designed to control acceleration, thus increasing fuel efficiency
• Maintaining driver training programs to improve safety and reduce fuel use

Van Gansewinkel Groep enrolled in the Green Portfolio Program in 2010 and is reporting results for the first time as part of the program. Please visit Van Gansewinkle Groep’s website for further details on its activities.

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