IMPROVED WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste management is a central service responsible for the collection and disposal of conventional and dangerous waste (excluding radioactive ones) from the CERN's sites. In 2019, CERN eliminated 5589 tons of non-hazardous waste, of which 57% was recycled. The Laboratory also eliminated 1868 tons of hazardous waste.

 

Long-term objectives have been defined as such

  • Offer to CERN’s community an efficient and adapted waste management service. 
  • Embrace the environmental transition laid down in CERN’s Environmental Protection Strategy and CERN’s Masterplan 2040, fully aligned with priorities of CERN, communities surrounding the sites and Geneva international organizations. Become an eco-exemplary campus.
  • Maintain full compliance with France and Switzerland regulations while operating waste management and waste disposal. Be an Align priorities to long-term plans of host states and local authorities.
  • Per producer category (campus, industry, work site), reduce the total quantity of waste generated by CERN, increase reuse and recycling rates.

 

Examples of our challenges in Waste Management

  • Adhere to 3 ‘R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
    • Develop solutions reducing waste at source (ex: new packaging solutions)
    • Develop solutions increasing reusability at CERN
    • Implement local recycling solutions such as organic composting including waste generating by restaurants

  • Integrate internal and external actors in a holistic and sustainable waste management flow
    • Develop new waste outlets and usage
    • Develop or integrate solutions feeding local circular economy

  • Implement best-practices of the industry and optimise waste management operations
    • Measure and take action to reduce the overall CO2 footprint to execute the service
    • Test innovative IT solutions to manage waste management operations

  • Steer the service based on data and increase traceability of waste and consolidate associated data to define and follow KPIs
    • Equip skips and containers with IOT sensors to better measure quantity, filling status, location, origin, and nature of waste generated
    • Measure automatically the quality of sorting per waste category
    • Based on data, adapt dynamically collection tours

  • Consolidate related equipment and infrastructure
    • Study and deploy innovative approach to collect wastes
    • Develop new smart battery collectors

  • Communicate, cooperate with local actors, and involve the community
    • Develop innovative communication campaigns
    • Develop and implement nudges to influence behaviors on waste management