Waste bunker at a Covanta energy-from-waste or waste-to-energy facility.Covanta (pronounced coh-van-tuh) is one of the world’s largest owners and operators of infrastructure for the conversion of waste-to-energy (known as “energy-from- waste” or “EfW”), as well as other waste disposal and renewable energy production businesses. Our company name represents the cooperation and advantages inherent in the partnerships we form to provide sustainable waste disposal solutions for the communities and businesses we serve. Covanta operates and/or has ownership positions in over 40 energy-from-waste facilities in located North America, Italy and China. We also operate other waste management businesses such as transfer stations and metals recycling facilities complementary to our core EfW business.

Covanta-operated facilities in North America convert 20 million tons of trash annually into clean, renewable energy for approximately 1 million homes. Covanta’s U.S. operations process approximately 65 percent of the nation’s EfW volume and offset 20 million tons of greenhouse gases annually.

Better for the Environment

Covanta Alexandria/Arlington in VA helped support the county's electric car promoting energy-from-wasteEnergy-from-waste is a sustainable waste disposal solution that is environmentally superior to landfills. It is a source of clean energy that reduces overall greenhouse gas emissions and is considered renewable under many state and federal laws. EfW projects also lower the risk of groundwater contamination and conserve land.

Covanta supports recycling and programs that enable communities to recycle as much as possible. As part of the EfW process, we recover over 500,000 tons of metal annually for recycling that would have otherwise been lost in landfills. Our modern Energy-from-Waste Facilities are an important element of an integrated municipal solid system that maximizes the recovery of energy and recycles metals while also minimizing the environmental impacts of materials remaining after recycling.

Studies have shown that communities that have an EfW facility typically enjoy higher recycling rates than the national average.1 Why? Processing MSW at Energy-from-Waste facilities for energy generation (steam or electricity) offsets, on average, one ton of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for every ton of waste processed. This occurs by avoiding energy generated from fossil fuels, methane produced by decomposing trash at landfills (methane is an extremely potent GHG - over 30 times more than carbon dioxide) and recovering metals for recycling.

Safe Operations

Covanta York is an OSHA VPP Start Worksite Health and safety at Covanta is a priority at our Energy-from-Waste facilities and other operations around the world. Covanta’s health and safety commitment helps maintain consistent productivity and work quality that supports our reputation as the energy-from-waste leader. We maintain a comprehensive health and safety program at all Covanta owned and/or operated facilities. Covanta is among the top ten companies in the U.S. to enter the majority of its operating locations into the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s prestigious Voluntary Protection Programs.

Community Involvement

Covanta Mendota (CA) recognized Earth Day Poster contest winners in 2012We take pride in being a good corporate citizen. Each of Covanta’s North American EfW facilities is involved in a variety of local community programs. Our community programs are centered mainly around waste disposal and recycling. Many of our employees volunteer their time to assist in cleaning up local rivers, streets, parks, in addition to, participating in local household hazardous waste programs. We also sponsor programs to support local sports teams, food pantries, scholarships and cell phones for soldiers programs. In general, we collaborate with our communities to protect and improve the environment.

Our mission is to provide sustainable waste and energy solutions to ensure no waste is ever wasted.

A crane operator at Covanta Niagara in Niagara Falls, NYAt Covanta we believe the materials discarded every day should be utilized to their fullest potential to preserve the world’s valuable resources and generate clean energy for our client communities and the world we live in.

This is how Covanta is powering today and protecting tomorrow.

PROTECTION:

We will conduct our business in an environmentally sound manner that is protective of human health and the environment.

COMPLIANCE:

We will manage our work to assure compliance with all applicable environmental regulations and requirements.

CONSERVATION:

We will minimize impact to the environment by encouraging pollution prevention at the source, waste minimization, recycling, and responsible disposal of production by-products.

QUALIFICATION:

We will ensure that all employees have the necessary information, resources and training to make informed environmental decisions.

COMMITMENT:

Covanta is committed to be an industry leader in environmental protection by achieving superior awareness and performance through a process of continuous improvement.

Environmental awareness and performance is the responsibility of every employee. By embracing this philosophy, we all can make a difference.

Sustainability: Our Clean World Initiative

We believe that sustainability requires the wise deployment, use and management of human, economic and natural resources. In adhering to this vision of sustainability, we bring value to our employees, communities, customers, partners and shareholders.

Covanta provides sustainable solutions to energy and environmental problems and our corporate culture is increasingly focused on sustainability themes. We aspire to continuously improve our environmental performance, beyond mere compliance with legally required standards. This ethos is embodied in our “Clean World Initiative” (CWI) in which we commit to:

• invest in the research and development of new technologies to enhance existing operations and create new business opportunities in renewable energy and waste management;
• explore and implement processes and technologies at our existing facilities to improve efficiency and lessen environmental impacts; and
• partner with governments and non-governmental organizations to communicate the benefits of energy-from-waste (EfW), enhance recycling opportunities in conjunction with EfW technology and support the development of other environmental programs, such as reducing the use of mercury-containing devices or properly disposing of commercial fishing gear and marine debris.

CWI is designed to be consistent with our mission to be the world’s leading energy-from-waste company by providing environmentally superior solutions, advancing our technical expertise and creating new business opportunities. Through CWI, Covanta Energy commits to achieving and maintaining an environmental, health and safety performance that ranks among the best in the energy-from-waste industry and to contributing to the communities in which we operate.