Our contribution to an improved soil and land quality People need the earth to survive. About 18% of our foodstuffs is vegetable and agriculture is not only an important economic resource, but also an instrument for development. Also water sources, and the way they are handled, have an impact on society and economy, especially in the field of health, food production, hygiene and the functioning of ecosystems. At our Quévy site composting, digestion and water purification installations are joining forces to improve the soil and water quality.
Development of a vision on efficient water use Our vision note on water contains some measures to optimize the use of water and waste water: →→ Reuse of rainwater. Where possible replace tap water with rainwater →→ Reuse of purified waste water as process water (washing installations, to prevent dust pollution, …) through our own water purification plant
→→ Preventing waste water at the source. Disconnecting the parking area for vehicles and storage areas for empty containers, covering up landfill cells with foil more rapidly, provide roofing ... →→ Collect washing water to purify later on at our own or an external water purification plant. Extra water counters for tap water, rainwater and waste water streams allow an improved monitoring of the consumption and handling of any leaks, if necessary. Nevertheless we observe an increase in water consumption in 2016. This is due to a leak at the end of February 2016 in Rumbeke in a mains water pipe that was no longer in use.
The use and reuse of rainwater, measured as from 2013, results in a decrease in tap water consumption. The sites in Antwerp, Rumbeke and Geluwe mainly operate on rainwater with respect to toilet flushing. At Rumbeke the vast majority of our wheeled containers and recipients are cleaned at the highly advanced washing area operating on rainwater. The latter operates in a closed system with external processing of the waste water produced by the company.