SOLID WASTE

Non-hazardous waste from our production comprises materials such as glass, paper, plastic materials and scrap metal from the packaging of raw materials as well as porcine glands and filter materials from our production processes.

The amount of solid waste that is incinerated has increased during the past three years, while the amount of waste disposed of as landfill has steadily declined.

Hazardous waste comprising substances such as oil and chemicals amounted to 11% of the total quantity of solid waste in 1997. Hazardous waste is sent for controlled destruction.

LIQUID WASTE

Liquid waste is the single largest waste stream from our processes. The liquid waste is divided into two streams: one containing spent biomass, i.e. microorganisms and unused nutrient salts, and another more diluted stream - waste water.

Biomass recycled
The more concentrated stream of the liquid waste is recycled after inactivation either as agricultural fertilizer or as pig feed (yeast slurry).

By 1999, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency's regulations governing the spreading of liquid organic fertilizers will be aligned to those applying to liquid manure. This means that the utilization of our current liquid NovoGro^® product with a dry matter content of 4% will not be allowed from October to end-January.

As a consequence of these requirements, we have developed a new solid organic fertilizer at our plant in Kalundborg called NovoGro^®30. NovoGro^®30 has a dry matter content of 30% and is used as a solid agricultural fertilizer in the same manner as farm manure. The water from the dewatering process is treated in the biological waste water treatment plant at the Kalundborg site.

Due to a tightening of the Danish regulations governing the recycling of organisc waste products, we have developed a new solid fertilizer product, NovoGro^®, from our spent biomass.

Process waste water
The less concentrated stream is waste water, which is treated at our own and/or the municipal waste water treatment plant before discharge. At our enzyme plant in Franklinton, North Carolina, the waste water is used for irrigation of farmland.

The total volume of waste water in 1997 rose by 42% compared to 1996. This is due to the fact that large quantities of waste water are generated in the dewatering process leading to the solid biomass product, NovoGro^®30.

Categories of solid waste by disposal form

Categories of solid waste in percent

Process liquid waste from Novo Nordisk's production sites

Emissions to air