In 2003, we continued to look for ways to reduce waste and use our resources better.

So we can operate as efficiently as possible and to minimise the way our use of resources affects the environment, we're always looking for ways to use our resources better. Examples of where we have succeeded include the following:

• The materials we use to join underground electricity cables used to come in boxes with plastic packaging. Following a suggestion from a cable jointer, the packaging has been replaced with a single plastic bag that, after being emptied, becomes the warning notice wrapped around the finished joint, eliminating packaging waste altogether.
  Instead of coming in cardboard boxes, many bulk materials are now delivered to us in returnable plastic crates which are collected by suppliers to be used again.
• Wooden battens, fixed to the outside rim of cable drums to retain the cable, could not be re-used and so were recycled. These battens are now being replaced on some drums with flexible packaging, made from recycled material. When removed, this packaging can be returned to the supplier and re-used on other cable drums.
• Although Powergen has never bought electrical equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), some equipment may contain small traces due to cross-contamination during manufacture. During 2003, 247 transformers were removed from the Environment Agency's PCB register, which tracks and controls equipment that may contain PCBs, because they were found not to contain PCBs.
• We create all sorts of waste products, ranging from those derived from power stations, such as used lubricating oils, to general maintenance waste from our network activities and office waste such as paper and obsolete IT kit.

Waste management plans

We ensure that all our businesses have effective waste management plans. All plans follow the standard waste hierarchy:

• Reduce use of materials where possible
• Re-use where possible
• Recover or recycle anything else
• Dispose of the remaining waste in a responsible way, complying with any relevant legislation.
  

Offices

All of our offices are covered by our waste management plans and have a range of waste reduction and recycling schemes. All our office waste, which consists of general waste, paper and cardboard, is managed by outside firms. In 2003, we disposed of 79.64 tonnes of general waste and 409.45 tonnes of recycled waste. All our sites aims to recycle paper and cardboard, but some also recycle plastic cups and bottles, drink cans and printer toner cartridges. Most also give redundant IT equipment to charity. Christmas card recycling has also been introduced in many non-operational sites. We continue to raise awareness with a communications programme aimed at our businesses and our service providers.

Distribution

Our Distribution business produces a significant amount of waste that has to be effectively dealt with. The movement of materials to and from activities is managed on our behalf by TNT. Returned materials are inspected to see if they can be re-used, and all waste is dealt with through a single waste management contract