Reduction in final waste disposal

We strive to reduce final waste disposal at our group factories. Concerning the quantity of waste generated in fiscal 2008, although the quantity of waste we generated rose by about 4% because of the opening of Hitachinaka-Rinko Works, the quantity of waste generated overall by our group companies in Japan was 27,950t, which was a reduction of 1,583t (5.4%) compared with fiscal 2007, because of cutbacks in production caused by the economic crisis. With regard to final waste disposal in fiscal 2008, although our final waste disposal was almost the same as the year before, the final waste disposal by our group companies was 78t, which was a reduction of 45t (36%) compared to fiscal 2007. The reduction was realized not only because of the cutback in production; it was also due to the efforts made by our group companies, who implemented a wide range of measures to enhance the sorting and recycling of waste.

The quantity of waste our two factories generated in fiscal 2008 was 29,355t. This was a reduction of 11,056t (27%) compared to fiscal 2007. The final waste disposal was 643t and also a reduction of 754t (59%) compared to fiscal 2007. This was because Hitachi Construction Machinery (China) reduced their final waste disposal drastically by recycling the sludge generated from wastewater treatment plant.

Our group will continue to endeavor to reduce waste, aiming for the target of zero emission that requires the very harsh conditions of final waste disposal of 1% or less of the total waste generated and a maximum weight of less than 5t a year.

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