Reducing, Recycling, Recovering

We are leveraging all of our knowledge and expertise to reduce the amount of waste we produce. Our Petrochemicals teams, for example, are developing increasingly high-performance polyolefins that can be used to make thinner packaging, using less material and therefore generating less waste. We are also developing biodegradable products like the Total Biohydran and Total Chainbio lubricant lines.

At the same time, we are working on innovative solutions to recycle and recover unavoidable waste. In France, for example, we are partnering Veolia in the Osilub plant, which will recycle used engine oils. Scheduled to come on stream in early 2012, Osilub will transform 120,000 metric tons of used engine oil per year into high-quality base oils, diesel fuel and asphalt.

In several African countries, we have set up a used oil recovery and recycling system called Ecolub. The treated oil is blended with heavy fuel oil to make fuel that is then sold to local customers.

In Gonfreville-l’Orcher in France, our Normanplast subsidiary manufactures more than 30 million lubricant containers every year. In 2010, it introduced 290 metric tons of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) into the production cycle, or 15% of the material used to make the containers. The purchase of a new extrusion machine will enable us to increase that figure to 60%, representing 600 metric tons of HDPE.

Spotlight on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

Most computer and telecommunication equipment contains precious metals, aluminum, ferrous metals and copper. Much of it also contains substances that constitute health or environmental hazards, such as lead, cadmium, mercury and halogenated compounds.

Scrapped electrical and electronic equipment must therefore undergo specific treatment to:

• Protect human health and the environment.
• Maximize re-use.
• Minimize waste.

In early 2010, we issued a recommendation applicable across the Group concerning the treatment of WEEE. The recommendation spells out the standards that Total requires worldwide in this area, above and beyond the local legislative and regulatory obligations.

It is backed up by a practical guide and standard specifications, which are made available to everyone concerned, whether employees or service providers.

Demanding Traceability

Waste traceability is a key issue. In accordance with the applicable legislation, our hazardous waste is transported and treated by specialized external partners. In countries where this is requested, we regularly submit waste reporting data to the public authorities, including waste classification inventories and records of the treatment processes used. We also strive to continuously improve our reporting process.

Pooling Efforts Through Partnerships

Waste treatment is a complex issue. To ensure that our actions are effective, we seek to pool our efforts and investments whenever possible via partnerships with other businesses, public institutions and non-profit organizations.

In Europe, Total Petrochemicals actively supports packaging waste recovery and recycling initiatives via partnerships with Valorplast in France, Plarebel and Val-I-Pac in Belgium and Cicloplast in Spain. We also take part in public awareness campaigns such as the Vacances Propres [Clean Vacation] campaign in France.

In several African countries, including Cameroon, Gabon and Morocco, we participate in a used oil recycling program as part of agreements signed by oil companies and cement producers. Under the program, used oil collected at service stations is converted into fuel for use by local cement plants.

In the area of solar energy, in 2009 Total joined PV Cycle, an industry association that brings together most of the operators in the European photovoltaic solar industry with the aim of creating a solar panel recycling program in Europe.

Contributing to the Development of Organized Waste Management Programs

In some countries, waste treatment infrastructure is insufficient or even non-existent. In these circumstances, our efforts focus on:

• Pooling resources among industrial players to establish waste treatment programs.
• Implementing appropriate solutions, such as waste treatment centers integrated into production facilities.

In Gabon, for example, we have developed a pilot project to centralize the management of waste from our various businesses. Hazardous waste that cannot be treated locally is aggregated and shipped to France for disposal in compliance with the Basel Convention, which regulates cross-border movements of hazardous waste. Used oils are collected and treated via a certified program set up by Total.

Feedback on this project will enable us to better identify the most effective options, which can then be replicated in other countries.

1. Created in 2005, Shipbreaking Platform is today recognized as the preeminent international advocacy organization on issues related to end-of-life vessels. It brings together NGOs from both developed countries and emerging economies like India and Bangladesh, which are home to numerous shipbreaking yards (www.shipbreakingplatform.org).