TXU's programs to reduce chemical use, replace hazardous substances with nonhazardous substances, and minimize and reuse waste continue to pay major environmental dividends. The reuse of material decreases energy costs, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and saves landfill space. TXU tracks and reports the annual generation and disposal of hazardous waste from its facilities and operations as part of its pollution prevention practices. Understanding how and where hazardous waste streams are produced helps TXU develop programs to eliminate or reduce these quantities. In 2005, the company disposed of 12 tons of hazardous waste, which was a 72 percent reduction from 2004.
RECYCLING BY THE BILLIONS OF POUNDS
In 2005, TXU recycled almost 4 billion pounds of used materials, representing a 45 percent increase over the quantities recycled in 2004 and the largest recycling quantity since 1993 when centralized recycling accounting began. As it has every year, recycled coal combustion products from TXU's Big Brown, Monticello, Martin Lake, and Sandow generating plants accounted for the largest individual quantity of material recycled during 2005 and the largest increase (1.2 billion pounds) over 2004 materials. Other major increases between 2004 and 2005 included scrap metal with an increase of 11 million pounds; drained electrical equipment, with an increase of 2.1 million pounds; and transformer oil, up just over 1 million pounds. (see chart)
Over the past 13 years, TXU has recycled 23 billion pounds of materials, including 22 billion pounds of coal combustion products, 664 million pounds of wood products and wood waste, 257 million pounds of scrap metal, 86 million pounds of drained electrical equipment, 54 million pounds of transformer oil, 34 million pounds of lubricating oil, 29 million pounds of natural gas condensate, 16 million pounds of waste water, 7.5 million pounds of paper and aluminum cans, and 3 million pounds of lead cable. (see charts)
