Unilever Definition - Zero Waste to Landfill

Unilever’s Definition of Zero Waste to Landfill

Unilever’s definition of zero waste to landfill is where no waste is sent for disposal to landfill or to
incineration without energy recovery – it is either totally eliminated at source or recycled off site.

Sanitary, Clinical and Biohazard waste represent 0.001% of Unilever’s total global waste. Under local
legislation, such waste typically requires high temperature incineration (without energy) where
pathogens and toxins must be destroyed. Under Unilever’s definition, if Sanitary, Clinical and
Biohazard wastes are the ONLY waste that a site disposes of via Incineration (without
energy)/treatment, then this will still meet Unilever’s definition of zero waste to landfill. All other
waste streams must be recycled via the following recycling routes in order for a site to meet
Unilever’s definition of zero landfill.

Guidance on Material Recycling Facilities (MRF)

General mixed waste sent to material recycling facilities is not a zero waste to landfill solution. Such
facilities may only recover 70-80% of recycling materials and the remaining 20-30% could be sent for
disposal to landfill.
 For this route to be meet Unilever’s definition of zero waste to landfill, the site must ensure
that the remaining fraction is sent for further recycling/processing via the zero landfill routes
stated below.
 If the remaining 20-30% is NOT sent for further recycling/processing via the zero landfill
routes stated below. Then this route will not meet Unilever’s definition of zero waste to
landfill.

Guidance on Energy from Waste/Waste to Energy (EfW/WtE)

Unilever define EfW technologies as a zero landfill solution ONLY if the EfW plant is a net producer of
energy. If the EfW plant utilizes the energy for the operation of the plant ONLY (i.e. operating
efficiently), then this disposal route will not meet Unilever’s definition of zero waste to landfill.

Guidance on Anaerobic Digestion (AD)

Almost any organic material can be processed with AD technology. AD that produce biogas which is
used to create energy is considered as a recycling solution and meets Unilever’s definition of zero
waste to landfill.

Guidance on Alternative Fuel (AF), Raw Materials and Refuse-derived-fuel (RDF)

Waste materials used for co-processing in the cement industry are referred to as alternative fuels
and/or raw materials. Feeding solid fuel/effluent into a cement kiln as a fuel or raw material is
considered a recycling solution that meets Unilever’s definition of zero waste to landfill.

RDF is an alternative fuel produced by shredding general mixed waste and largely consists of organic,
plastic and biodegradable waste. Non-combustible materials such as glass, metals and large objects
must be segregated from mixed waste before been sent to an RDF facility (this material will be
rejected and may be disposed via landfill). RDF is typically used in the cement industry to generate
energy and will meet Unilever’s definition of zero waste to landfill.
Guidance on Lubricant Blending

Waste oils blended into lubricants is considered a recycling solution and meets Unilever’s definition
of zero waste to landfill.

Guidance on Composting

Organic material used for composting can be converted into soil conditioner and is considered a
recycling solution which meets Unilever’s definition of zero waste to landfill.

Guidance on Land Injection/Spreading

Waste applied to land to provide nutrients or act as a soil conditioner is considered as a recycling
solution and meets Unilever’s definition of zero waste to landfill. Sites must ensure that material
sent to land injection/spreading complies with local legislation.

Guidance on Animal Feed

Product sent for animal feed is considered a recycling solution which meets Unilever’s definition of
zero waste to landfill. Sites must ensure that material sent to animal feed complies with local
legislation and both Unilever’s and the receiving sites quality standards.

Guidance on Landfill with Methane Recovery

Disposal to landfill with methane recovery will not constitute as a zero landfill solution.
Decomposition of landfill waste can take many years so there is no assurance that Unilever’s waste
has been directly recycled. With no guarantee, this disposal route will not meet Unilever’s definition
of zero waste to landfill.

Guidance on EfW/WtE Bottom Ash & Sludge’s from Anaerobic Digestion

The EfW/AD plant must make every effort to recycle the secondary output of residual waste (bottom
ash/sludge) from a primary treatment process. Unilever understands the commercial restraints
secondary output recycling can have and considers the secondary output as the responsibility of the
operational plant and not Unilever’s. If the EfW/AD plant does not recycle bottom ash/sludge, then
this disposal route meets Unilever’s definition of zero waste to landfill.

Guidance on Brand Protection

All surplus products (trial/waste/washings) must leave all sites in a controlled, robust and
transparent way. Appropriate, audited contracts must be in place and records kept so we do not put
our consumers, brands or corporate reputation at risk.
 Unilever’s Zero Landfill Definition Summary

Waste Hierarchy Route Meets Criteria

Reduce Prevention 
(Lowering the amount of waste produced)
Reuse Animal Feed 
(Using materials fit for purpose repeatedly) Charity 
Recycle Material Recycling 
(Turning waste into a new substance or Lubricant Blending 
product) Composting 
Land Injection/Spreading 
Recovery Energy from Waste 
(Recovering energy/materials from waste) Anaerobic Digestion 
Refuse Derived Fuel 
Alternative Fuel 
Landfill Landfill with Methane Recovery 
(Disposal of waste to landfill or Incineration without Energy 
incineration without energy) Landfill 