FEM 2024 - Waste Level 2 (Part 1)

Table of Contents

1. Wstbaselinenh
2. Wstbaselinenh Verification And Scoring
3. Wstbaselineh
4. Wstbaselineh Verification And Scoring
5. Wstdisposal
6. Wstdisposal Verification And Scoring
7. Wstbaselinedisp
8. Wstbaselinedisp Verification And Scoring
9. Wsttargetnh
10. Wsttargetnh Verification And Scoring
11. Wsttargeth
12. Wsttargeth Verification And Scoring
13. Wsttargetdisp
14. Wsttargetdisp Verification And Scoring

Wstbaselinenh

15. Has your facility set baselines for non-hazardous waste? (Ref ID: wstbaselinenh)

Answer Yes if:  Your Facility has set a baseline for one (1) or more of your non-hazardous waste streams.

If you answer Yes to this question, you will be asked to complete a series of tables to provide details on your non-hazardous waste baselines for each applicable waste stream (All applicable waste streams selected in the applicability questions will be pre-populated in the table): 

• Complete the following questions to provide details on your non-hazardous waste baseline during this reporting year.
  • Have you set a baseline for this non-hazardous waste stream? 
  • Is this a normalized or absolute baseline?

For all wastes streams that have baselines, you will be asked to complete a table with the following questions based on whether the baseline is absolute or normalized:

Note: From FEM2024 onwards, in the above table, baseline data can be auto populated or manually entered in the following ways:

• New FEM Users: Required to manually input baseline.
• Existing FEM Users without a baseline: Facility can choose to:
  • Enter the baseline manually OR 
  • Have the FEM auto populate a baseline based on the data from the previous year’s FEM.
• Existing FEM Users with an existing baseline: Baseline will auto populate based on the data from the previous year’s FEM.

Suggested Uploads:

• Documentation that supports how the baseline was established for each waste stream (e.g., waste quantity tracking and production data from the baseline year, supporting calculations or assumptions used to determine the baseline).

What is the intent of the question?

The intent of this question is for facilities to demonstrate that they have established baselines for non-hazardous wastes generated at the facility so that future reduction efforts can be quantified.

Technical Guidance:

A “baseline” is a starting point or benchmark that a facility can use to compare changes over time and quantify any reduction efforts.

Baselines can be absolute or normalized. For example: 

• Absolute: The total amount of waste produced over a period of time (for example, 1,500 tons per year) 
• Normalized: The amount of waste produced while making a unit of product (for example, 0.15 kg per pair of shoes produced or the amount of food waste per worker). 

Note: It is recommended to use the ‘Normalized’ method to account for operational fluctuations. Normalized baselines provide more accurate and useful comparisons over time.

When establishing a baseline, be sure to do the following:

• Confirm the waste source data is stable, and sufficient to be used to determine a baseline. In the Higg FEM, a baseline should generally comprise of a full calendar year’s data. 
• Note: If your factory has undergone major structural or operational changes such as acquisitions, new buildings or production areas, or significant changes in production, equipment or materials used, the baseline should be reviewed and revised, if needed, after the changes have been completed.
• Determine if the baseline is Absolute or Normalized (normalized baselines are preferred). 
• Verify the source data and normalizing metric data is accurate.
• Waste quantities and production volume data from previous Higg FEM verifications, internal or external audits conducted by qualified personnel are acceptable sources of data verification.
• Apply the appropriate baseline metric (i.e., per year for absolute OR divide by the chosen normalizing metric 1,500,000 kg per 1,000,000 pieces = 1.5kg/piece)
  • Note: For waste sources that is not related to production, other normalizing metrics should be used where appropriate (e.g., food or other domestic wastes can be normalized per meal served or per worker)
  • Hardgoods guidance: For hardgoods production, normalizing metrics per product piece, or per kg of product may be relevant. 

Note: If the baseline is used to evaluate performance against a target, the baseline should remain unchanged.

Reporting baseline data in the Higg FEM:

Do:

• Review source data and raw normalizing metric data (manifests/invoices, weighing records, production quantity, etc.) against aggregated totals to ensure they are accurate. 
• Select the appropriate baseline type in the FEM - Absolute or Normalized.
• Ensure the proper units are reported and verify any unit conversions from source data to reported data (e.g., converting kg to tons).
• Enter the baseline year. This is the year the baseline data represents.
• Provide sufficient details on how the baseline was calculated (e.g., waste quantity is normalized per meter of fabric produced or per kg of product).
• Only select ‘Yes’ to the question “Was the baseline verified?” if the baseline data was fully verified in a previous Higg FEM verification or by an internal or external audit conducted by qualified personnel.

Do Not:

• Report inaccurate data (including if the data has not been verified).
• Report a baseline that is based on insufficient data (e.g., not a full year’s data). 
• Report an estimated baseline if it is not supported by verifiable and accurate estimation methodology and data.

Wstbaselinenh Verification And Scoring

How This Will Be Verified:

When verifying a facility’s baselines, Verifiers must review:

• Source data (e.g., manifests, invoices, weighing records, production quantities, etc.) and aggregated data totals for the baseline year.
• Records of baseline data verification where available (e.g., previous Higg Verification, data quality review, internal or external audits, etc.)

If any inconsistencies or errors are noted, the reported information must be corrected, where possible, and detailed comments should be included in the Verification Data field.

Full Points:

Full Points will be awarded if the facility has established baselines for all non-hazardous waste streams.

Documentation Required: 

• Documentation that supports how the baseline was established for each waste stream. This may include:
  • Waste quantity tracking and production data from the baseline year
  • Supporting calculations methodologies or assumptions used to determine the baseline.
• Supporting evidence to demonstrate how baseline data was validated (e.g., verified Higg FEM data for the baseline year, external or internal data validation process or report).

Interview Questions to Ask: 

• Staff responsible for waste management are able to describe how the baselines were determined including any normalizing metrics used or any assumption made in the calculation methodology. 
• Relevant staff are able to describe the facility’s process to validate the accuracy of baseline data.

Inspection – Things to Physically Look For: 

• The observed waste management practices on-site are consistent with the facility’s reported methods for determining baselines (e.g., weighing of wastes if applicable, waste segregation, etc.)
• Observations on-site do not indicate that there have been significant changes at the facility that could impact the appropriateness of the baseline (e.g., new production areas, changes to products, new buildings, etc.)

Partial Points:

• Partial points will be awarded if the facility has established baselines for one (1) or more non-hazardous waste stream.

Wstbaselineh

16. Has your facility set baselines for hazardous waste? (Ref ID: wstbaselineh  )

Answer Yes if:  Your Facility has set a baseline for one (1) or more of your hazardous waste streams.

If you answer Yes to this question, you will be asked to complete a series of tables to provide details on your hazardous waste baselines for each applicable waste stream (All applicable waste streams selected in the applicability questions will be pre-populated in the table): 

• Complete the following questions to provide details on your hazardous waste baseline during this reporting year.
  • Have you set a baseline for this hazardous waste stream? 
  • Is this a normalized or absolute baseline?

For all wastes streams that have baselines, you will be asked to complete a table with the following questions based on whether the baseline is absolute or normalized:

Note: From FEM2024 onwards, in the above table, baseline data can be auto populated or manually entered in the following ways:

• New FEM Users: Required to manually input baseline.
• Existing FEM Users without a baseline: Facility can choose to:
  • Enter the baseline manually OR 
  • Have the FEM auto populate a baseline based on the data from the previous year’s FEM.
• Existing FEM Users with an existing baseline: Baseline will auto populate based on the data from the previous year’s FEM.

Suggested Uploads:

• Documentation that supports how the baseline was established for each waste stream (e.g., waste quantity tracking and production data from the baseline year, supporting calculations or assumptions used to determine the baseline).

What is the intent of the question?

The intent of this question is for facilities to demonstrate that they have established baselines for hazardous wastes generated at the facility so that future reduction efforts can be quantified.

Technical Guidance:

A “baseline” is a starting point or benchmark that a facility can use to compare changes over time and quantify any reduction efforts.

Baselines can be absolute or normalized. For example: 

• Absolute: The total amount of waste produced over a period of time (for example, 1,500 tons per year) 
• Normalized: The amount of waste produced while making a unit of product (for example, 0.15 kg per pair of shoes produced). 

Note: It is recommended to use the ‘Normalized’ method to account for operational fluctuations. Normalized baselines provide more accurate and useful comparisons over time.

When establishing a baseline, be sure to do the following:

• Confirm the waste source data is stable, and sufficient to be used to determine a baseline. In the Higg FEM, a baseline should generally comprise of a full calendar year’s data. 
• Note: If your factory has undergone major structural or operational changes such as acquisitions, new buildings or production areas, or significant changes in production, equipment or materials used, the baseline should be reviewed and revised, if needed, after the changes have been completed.
• Determine if the baseline is Absolute or Normalized (normalized baselines are preferred). 
• Verify the source data and normalizing metric data is accurate.
• Waste quantities and production volume data from previous Higg FEM verifications, internal or external audits conducted by qualified personnel are acceptable sources of data verification.
• Apply the appropriate baseline metric (i.e., per year for absolute OR divide by the chosen normalizing metric 1,500,000 kg per 1,000,000 pieces = 1.5kg/piece)
  • Note: For waste sources that are not related to production, other normalizing metrics should be used where appropriate.

Note: If the baseline is used to evaluate performance against a target, the baseline should remain unchanged.

Reporting baseline data in the Higg FEM:

Do:

• Review source data and raw normalizing metric data (manifests/invoices, weighing records, production quantity, etc.) against aggregated totals to ensure they are accurate. 
• Select the appropriate baseline type in the FEM - Absolute or Normalized.
• Ensure the proper units are reported and verify any unit conversions from source data to reported data (e.g., converting kg to tons).
• Enter the baseline year. This is the year the baseline data represents.
• Provide sufficient details on how the baseline was calculated (e.g., waste quantity is normalized per meter of fabric produced or per kg of product).
• Only select ‘Yes’ to the question “Was the baseline verified?” if the baseline data was fully verified in a previous Higg FEM verification or by an internal or external audit conducted by qualified personnel.

Do Not:

• Report inaccurate data (including if the data has not been verified).
• Report a baseline that is based on insufficient data (e.g., not a full year’s data). 
• Report an estimated baseline if it is not supported by verifiable and accurate estimation methodology and data.

Wstbaselineh Verification And Scoring

How This Will Be Verified:

When verifying a facility’s baselines, Verifiers must review:

• Source data (e.g., manifests, invoices, weighing records, production quantities, etc.) and aggregated data totals for the baseline year. 
• Records of baseline data verification where available (e.g., previous Higg Verification, data quality review, internal or external audits, etc.)

If any inconsistencies or errors are noted, the reported information must be corrected, where possible, and detailed comments should be included in the Verification Data field.

Full Points:

Full Points will be awarded if the facility has established baselines for all hazardous waste streams.

Documentation Required: 

• Documentation that supports how the baseline was established for each waste stream. This may include:
  • Waste quantity tracking and production data from the baseline year.
  • Supporting calculations methodologies or assumptions used to determine the baseline.
• Supporting evidence to demonstrate how baseline data was validated (e.g., verified Higg FEM data for the baseline year, external or internal data validation process or report).

Interview Questions to Ask: 

• Staff responsible for waste management are able to describe how the baselines were determined including any normalizing metrics used or any assumption made in the calculation methodology. 
• Relevant staff are able to describe the facility’s process to validate the accuracy of baseline data.

Inspection – Things to Physically Look For: 

• The observed waste management practices on-site are consistent with the facility’s reported methods for determining baselines (e.g., weighing of wastes if applicable, waste segregation, etc.)
• Observations on-site do not indicate that there have been significant changes at the facility that could impact the appropriateness of the baseline (e.g., new production areas, changes to products, new buildings, etc.)

Partial Points:

• Partial points will be awarded if the facility has established baselines for one (1) or more hazardous waste stream.

Wstdisposal

17. Which waste disposal methods are used for your facility's wastes (Select all that apply)? (Ref ID: wstdisposal )

For this question you will be required to select all of the waste disposal methods that are used for your facility’s waste. 

Notes:

• The listed methods refer to the final disposal/treatment method.
• For a description of the waste disposal methods refer to the in the Introduction section which provides a description of each method. 
• Preferred Options
  • Material Recovery - Reuse
  • Material Recovery - Recycle (including Upcycle)
  • Material Recovery - Downcycle
• Less Preferred Options
  • Energy Recovery - Incineration with energy recovery for Non-Recyclables only
  • Energy Recovery - Residual Management (e.g., Physical / Chemical / Biological Treatment)
  • Non-valorized disposal - Onsite incineration without energy recovery for Non-Recyclables
  • Non-valorized disposal - Offsite incineration without energy recovery for Non-Recyclables
  • Non-valorized disposal - Other Treatment
  • Non-valorized disposal - Responsibly Managed Landfills (for waste that cannot be managed in any of the options under Preferred options or Less Preferred Options)
• Least Preferred Options
  • Energy Recovery (e.g., Incineration with energy recovery for Recyclables)
    • Note: Recycling infrastructure and capabilities may differ among regions and countries. 
  • Landfill/Dumping with No Control Measures
  • Onsite Incineration without energy recovery for Recyclables
  • Offsite incineration without energy recovery for Recyclables
  • Other

This question is not scored in the 2024 Higg FEM reporting year. Scoring may be applied in future reporting years.

What is the intent of the question?

The intent is to ensure facilities understand how their wastes are being disposed of or treated, and to encourage the selection of preferred options to treat wastes.  

Technical Guidance:

The method used to dispose of or treat wastes can have varying impacts on the environment. Facilities should evaluate available options with waste service providers and strive to utilize options that result in the least amount of environmental impacts as possible.

Wstdisposal Verification And Scoring

How This Will Be Verified:

This question is unscored. 

Documentation Required: 

• Documentation that demonstrates how the facility’s wastes are being disposed of or treated. This may include:
• Contracts or agreements with waste service providers that indicate the final disposal methods of wastes.
• Permits or approvals from local government authorities for onsite waste disposal or treatment, if applicable. 
• Inspection reports of offsite waste disposal or treatment facilities 

Interview Questions to Ask: 

• Staff responsible for waste management are able to describe how they have verified the final disposal methods of all facility wastes.

Inspection – Things to Physically Look For: 

• Observations on-site are consistent with the facility’s reported disposal methods for any onsite disposal/treatment.

Wstbaselinedisp

18. Did you set a baseline for waste disposal methods for your facility's overall waste? (Ref ID: wstbaselinedisp)

Answer Yes if:  Your Facility has set a baseline for one (1) or more of your waste disposal methods.

If you answer Yes to this question, you will be asked to complete a table with the following questions to provide details on your waste disposal method baselines for each applicable method:

• Have you set a baseline for this method?
• What is the baseline quantity?
• Unit of Measure.
• Enter baseline year.
• How was your baseline calculated?
• Was the baseline verified?
• Provide any additional comments. 

Note: From FEM2024 onwards, in the above table, baseline data can be auto populated or manually entered in the following ways:

• New FEM Users: Required to manually input baseline.
• Existing FEM Users without a baseline: Facility can choose to:
  • Enter the baseline manually OR 
  • Have the FEM auto populate a baseline based on the data from the previous year’s FEM.
• Existing FEM Users with an existing baseline: Baseline will auto populate based on the data from the previous year’s FEM.

Suggested Uploads:

• Documentation that supports how the baseline was established for each waste disposal method (e.g., waste disposal and quantity tracking data from the baseline year, supporting calculations or assumptions used to determine the baseline).

What is the intent of the question?

The intent of this question is for facilities to demonstrate that they have established baselines for waste disposal methods for facility wastes so that future improvement efforts can be quantified. 

Technical Guidance:

A “baseline” is a starting point or benchmark that a facility can use to compare changes over time and quantify any improvement efforts. Waste disposal method baselines are different from the waste source baselines. Disposal methods baselines focus on the percentage of total facility wastes being disposed of by a specific method (e.g., 60% of all waste generated at the facility is disposed of by landfill with significant controls or 40% sent for recycling).

When establishing a baseline, be sure to do the following:

• Confirm the waste disposal method data is stable, and sufficient to be used to determine a baseline. In the Higg FEM, a baseline should generally comprise of a full calendar year’s data. 
• Note: If your factory has undergone major structural or operational changes such as acquisitions, new buildings or production areas, or significant changes in production, equipment or materials used, the baseline should be reviewed and revised, if needed, after the changes have been completed.
• Calculate the total amount of waste generated at the facility (from all sources) including hazardous and non-hazardous sources. 
• Calculate the total amount of wastes being disposed of using a particular disposal method (e.g., landfill, recycling, incineration)
• Divide the total amount of waste disposed of using the same method by the total amount of waste generated. For example:
  • Total waste generated from all sources: 460,555 kg per year.
  • Baseline quantity of waste recycled: 255,000kg/year.
  • Baseline percentage of recycled waste: 55.3% (255,000kg/460,555kg)
• Verify the baseline data accuracy.
  • Waste disposal method data from previous Higg FEM verifications, internal or external audits conducted by qualified personnel are acceptable sources of data verification.

Note: If the baseline is used to evaluate performance against a target, the baseline should remain unchanged.

Reporting baseline data in the Higg FEM:

Do:

• Review source data (manifests/invoices, weighing or disposal records, etc.) against aggregated totals to ensure they are accurate. 
• Ensure the proper units are reported and verify any unit conversions from source data to reported data (e.g., converting kg to tons).
• Enter the baseline year. This is the year the baseline data represents.
• Provide sufficient details on how the baseline was calculated.
• Only select ‘Yes’ to the question “Was the baseline verified?” if the baseline data was fully verified in a previous Higg FEM verification or by an internal or external audit conducted by qualified personnel.

Do Not:

• Report inaccurate data (including if the data has not been verified).
• Report a baseline that is based on insufficient data (e.g., not a full year’s data). 
• Report an estimated baseline if it is not supported by verifiable and accurate estimation methodology and data.

Wstbaselinedisp Verification And Scoring

How This Will Be Verified:

When verifying a facility’s baselines, Verifiers must review:

• Source data (e.g., manifests, invoices, weighing or disposal records, etc.) and aggregated data totals for the baseline year. 
• Records of baseline data verification where available (e.g., previous Higg Verification, data quality review, internal or external audits, etc.)

If any inconsistencies or errors are noted, the reported information must be corrected, where possible, and detailed comments should be included in the Verification Data field.

Full Points:

Full Points will be awarded if the facility has established baselines for one (1) or more waste disposal methods.

Documentation Required: 

• Documentation that supports how the baseline was established for each waste disposal method. This may include:
  • Waste quantity tracking and total quantities of waste for each disposal method from the baseline year.
  • Supporting calculations methodologies or assumptions used to determine the baseline.
• Supporting evidence to demonstrate how baseline data was validated (e.g., verified Higg FEM data for the baseline year, external or internal data validation process or report).

Interview Questions to Ask: 

• Staff responsible for waste management are able to describe how the baselines were determined including any assumption made in the calculation methodology. 
• Relevant staff are able to describe the facility’s process to validate the accuracy of baseline data.

Inspection – Things to Physically Look For: 

• The observed waste management practices on-site are consistent with the facility’s reported methods for determining baselines (e.g., weighing of wastes if applicable, waste segregation, etc.)
• Observations on-site do not indicate that there have been significant changes at the facility that could impact the appropriateness of the baseline (e.g., new production areas, changes to products, new buildings, etc.)

Partial Points: N/A

Wsttargetnh

19. Does your facility set formal targets to reduce non-hazardous waste generation? (Ref ID: wsttargetnh)

Answer Yes if:  Your Facility has set a target to reduce waste generation for one (1) or more of your non-hazardous waste streams.

Note: If your facility has not conducted a formal evaluation of waste reduction opportunities and calculated how much waste can be reduced to support your target, you should select No for this question. 

If you answer Yes to this question, you will be asked to complete a series of tables with the following questions to provide details on your non-hazardous waste targets for each applicable waste stream:

• Does your facility set formal targets to reduce non-hazardous waste generation?
  • Have you set a target for this non-hazardous waste? 
  • Is this a normalized or absolute target?

For all wastes streams that have targets, you will be asked to complete a table with the following questions based on whether the target is absolute or normalized:

Suggested Uploads:

• Documentation that supports how the target was established and demonstrates the target is based on a formal evaluation of improvement opportunities (e.g., calculations, waste quantity data and baselines, new/proposed equipment specifications or work practices, etc.) 

What is the intent of the question?

The intent of this question is for facilities to demonstrate that they have established formal targets to reduce non-hazardous wastes generated at the facility.

Technical Guidance:

Targets can use absolute or normalized metrics to drive quantifiable improvements by a set date compared to the baseline. For Higg FEM, reduction targets may be normalized to the production volume unit or another appropriate operational metric. A normalized target shows you when progress is real, rather than being a result of business changes such as reductions in production. An example of a normalized target is kilograms (kg) of a waste generated for the production of one unit of sellable product (kg/unit).

When establishing formal improvement targets, be sure to do the following:

• Base the target on a formal evaluation of improvement opportunities and actions (e.g., change of raw materials/packaging, process modifications or equipment replacement) to calculate the amount of waste that can be reduced.
  • For example: Setting a target based on an evaluation of the purchase of laser cutting machines that is expected to reduce fabric or metal waste by 15% per meter of fabric or metal that was calculated based on a formal review of equipment specifications and planned operations.
• Define the exact target quantity, expressed as a percent (e.g., reduce normalized fabric waste per piece by 5%). This must be based on a formal evaluation as noted above.
• Determine if the target will be Absolute or Normalized to a production or operating metric.
• Define the start date (i.e., “baseline”) of the target.
• Define the end date of the target, meaning the intended completion date of the required improvements. 
• Define the appropriate measurement units.
• Establish procedures to review the target. This review should include an evaluation of the actions taken and progress on reaching the defined target. Quarterly reviews are recommended.
• Ensure the target is relevant to reducing the site’s waste (e.g., focuses on the most significant waste sources at the site)

Reporting Targets in the Higg FEM:

Do:

• Review the target to ensure all aspects noted above are covered and that the information is accurate.  
• Enter the targeted reduction as a percentage. Make sure to enter a negative percentage for a reduction target (e.g., -5 for a 5% reduction)
• Provide sufficient details on how the target will be met in the “Describe the measures planned to achieve this target:” field (e.g., Achieve a 3% reduction in normalized cardboard waste generated by switching to reusable cartons for raw material deliveries).

Do Not:

• Report a target that is not accurate (e.g., the data source is unknown or has not been verified)
• Report a target that is based on insufficient data. (e.g., a reduction target that is not based on a formal evaluation of options such as process/equipment modifications or change of materials used to meet the stated target OR actions to meet the target have not been defined.)
• Report an estimated target if it is not supported by verifiable and accurate estimation methodology and data (e.g., engineering calculations).

Wsttargetnh Verification And Scoring

How This Will Be Verified:

When verifying a facility’s targets, Verifiers must review:

• All supporting evidence (e.g., calculations, waste quantity data and baselines, new/proposed equipment specifications, etc) to verify target is based on a formal evaluation of improvement opportunities. 
• Facility operations in relation to its waste sources to ensure targets and opportunities evaluated are relevant to the site’s wastes.

If any inconsistencies or errors are noted, the reported information must be corrected where possible and detailed comments should be included in the Verification Data field.

Full Points:

Full Points will be awarded if the facility has established targets for all waste streams and the targets cover greater than 90% (by total waste quantity) of all non-hazardous wastes generated at the facility.

Documentation Required: 

• Documentation that supports how the target was established for each waste stream and is based on a formal evaluation of reduction opportunities. This may include:
  • Waste quantity tracking and production data.
  • Documented evaluations of new/proposed equipment specifications, modifications to production processes or work practices that will result in waste reduction.  
  • Supporting calculations methodologies or assumptions used to determine the target.

Interview Questions to Ask: 

• Staff responsible for waste management are able to describe how the targets were determined including any calculations or assumptions made in the target setting methodology. 
• Relevant staff are able to describe the facility’s proposed actions to achieve the target and how progress is monitored and tracked.

Inspection – Things to Physically Look For: 

• The observed waste management practices on-site are appropriate in relation to the established targets (e.g., tracking of waste quantity if applicable, waste segregation, etc.)

Partial Points:

• Partial points will be awarded if the facility has established targets for one (1) or more waste streams and the targets cover 50% to 89% (by total waste quantity) of all non-hazardous wastes generated at the facility.

Wsttargeth

20. Does your facility set formal targets to reduce hazardous waste generation? (Ref ID: wsttargeth )

Answer Yes if:  Your Facility has set a target to reduce hazardous waste generation for one (1) or more of your hazardous waste streams.

Note: If your facility has not conducted a formal evaluation of waste reduction opportunities and calculated how much waste can be reduced to support your target, you should select No for this question. 

If you answer Yes to this question, you will be asked to complete a series of tables with the following questions to provide details on your hazardous waste targets for each applicable waste stream:

• Does your facility set formal targets to reduce hazardous waste generation?
  • Have you set a target for this hazardous waste? 
  • Is this a normalized or absolute target?

For all wastes streams that have targets, you will be asked to complete a table with the following questions based on whether the target is absolute or normalized:

Suggested Uploads:

• Documentation that supports how the target was established and demonstrates the target is based on a formal evaluation of improvement opportunities (e.g., calculations, waste quantity data and baselines, new/proposed equipment specifications or work practices, etc.) 

What is the intent of the question?

The intent of this question is for facilities to demonstrate that they have established formal targets to reduce hazardous wastes generated at the facility.

Technical Guidance:

Targets can use absolute or normalized metrics to drive quantifiable improvements by a set date compared to the baseline. For Higg FEM, reduction targets may be normalized to the production volume unit or another appropriate operational metric. A normalized target shows you when progress is real, rather than being a result of business changes such as reductions in production. An example of a normalized target is kilograms (kg) of a waste generated for the production of one unit of sellable product (kg/unit).

When establishing formal improvement targets, be sure to do the following:

• Base the target on a formal evaluation of improvement opportunities and actions (e.g., process modifications or equipment replacement) to calculate the amount of waste that can be reduced.
  • For example: Setting a target based on an evaluation of the purchase of automated printing machines that is expected to reduce chemical waste by 15% per unit of production that was calculated based on a formal review of equipment specifications and planned operations. OR
  • Setting a target based on an evaluation of the substitution with water-based solvents to reduce solvent usage and thereby hazardous waste generation by 10%; calculated based on a formal review of equipment specifications and planned operations.
• Define the exact target quantity, expressed as a percent (e.g., reduce normalized chemical waste per piece by 5%). This must be based on a formal evaluation as noted above.
• Determine if the target will be Absolute or Normalized to a production or operating metric.
• Define the start date (i.e., “baseline”) of the target.
• Define the end date of the target, meaning the intended completion date of the required improvements. 
• Define the appropriate measurement units.
• Establish procedures to review the target. This review should include an evaluation of the actions taken and progress on reaching the defined target. Quarterly reviews are recommended.
• Ensure the target is relevant to reducing the site’s waste (e.g., focuses on the most significant waste sources at the site)

Reporting Targets in the Higg FEM:

Do:

• Review the target to ensure all aspects noted above are covered and that the information is accurate.  
• Enter the targeted reduction as a percentage. Make sure to enter a negative percentage for a reduction target (e.g., -5 for a 5% reduction)
• Provide sufficient details on how the target will be met in the “Describe the measures planned to achieve this target:” field (e.g., Achieve a 10% reduction in normalized chemical waste generated by switching laser finishing for denim instead of potassium permanganate spray).

Do Not:

• Report a target that is not accurate (e.g., the data source is unknown or has not been verified)
• Report a target that is based on insufficient data. (e.g., a reduction target that is not based on a formal evaluation of options such as process/equipment modifications or change of materials used to meet the stated target OR actions to meet the target have not been defined.)
• Report an estimated target if it is not supported by verifiable and accurate estimation methodology and data (e.g., engineering calculations).

Wsttargeth Verification And Scoring

How This Will Be Verified:

When verifying a facility’s targets, Verifiers must review:

• All supporting evidence (e.g., calculations, waste quantity data and baselines, new/proposed equipment specifications, etc) to verify target is based on a formal evaluation of improvement opportunities. 
• Facility operations in relation to its waste sources to ensure targets and opportunities evaluated are relevant to the site’s wastes.

If any inconsistencies or errors are noted, the reported information must be corrected where possible and detailed comments should be included in the Verification Data field.

Full Points:

Full Points will be awarded if the facility has established targets that cover greater than 90% (by total waste quantity) of all hazardous wastes generated at the facility.

Documentation Required: 

• Documentation that supports how the target was established for each waste stream and is based on a formal evaluation of reduction opportunities. This may include:
  • Waste quantity tracking and production data.
  • Documented evaluations of new/proposed equipment specifications, modifications to production processes or work practices that will result in waste reduction.  
  • Supporting calculations methodologies or assumptions used to determine the target.

Interview Questions to Ask: 

• Staff responsible for waste management are able to describe how the targets were determined including any calculations or assumptions made in the target setting methodology. 
• Relevant staff are able to describe the facility’s proposed actions to achieve the target and how progress is monitored and tracked.

Inspection – Things to Physically Look For: 

• The observed waste management practices on-site are appropriate in relation to the established targets (e.g., tracking of waste quantity if applicable, waste segregation, etc.)

Partial Points:

• Partial points will be awarded if the facility has established targets that cover 50% to 89% (by total waste quantity) of all hazardous wastes generated at the facility.

Wsttargetdisp

21. Does your facility set a target for improving waste disposal methods for your facility's overall waste? For example, by switching from least preferred to less preferred or preferred options, or by switching from less preferred options to preferred options. (Ref ID: wsttargetdisp )

Answer Yes if:  If your Facility has set a formal target to improve the waste disposal methods used by your facility. 

Answer Not Applicable if: Your facility disposes of all wastes using the preferred methods of waste disposal. These are: reuse, recycle (including upcycle) or downcycle. 

Note: If your facility has not conducted a formal evaluation of waste disposal improvement opportunities to support your target, you should select No for this question. 

If you answer Yes to this question, you will be asked to complete a series of tables with the following questions to provide details on your waste disposal method targets:

• Have you set a target to switch from this waste disposal method?
• Which waste disposal method under Preferred or Less Preferred options your facility will switch to?
• What is your target for change (in %) in improving this disposal method? (Enter negative for reduction target ; Enter positive for increasing target)
• Enter the target year.
• Describe the measures planned to achieve this target:
• Provide any additional comments.

Suggested Uploads:

• Documentation that supports how the target was established and demonstrates the target is based on a formal evaluation of improvement opportunities (e.g., review of local waste disposal options, waste quantity data and baselines, etc.) 

What is the intent of the question?

The intent of this question is for facilities to demonstrate that they have established formal targets to improve the waste disposal method for wastes generated at the facility.

Technical Guidance:

Minimizing the environmental impact of waste can be achieved by using a disposal method results in less environmental impact. Examples of improvements to disposal methods can include:

• Increasing the quantity of waste sent to external recycling contractors and biological treatment (e.g., non-hazardous production waste recycling and food waste biological treatment) to divert waste from landfill or incineration without energy recovery.
• Switching to a disposal/treatment method that recovers usable aspects of the waste (e.g., using incineration with energy recovery as opposed to landfilling)

Note: Improving waste disposal methods will often require collaboration with waste treatment vendors to evaluate which preferred disposal methods are available.

When evaluating opportunities to improve waste disposal or treatment methods the list of Preferred and Less Preferred methods listed in the Introduction section of this guidance can be referenced to evaluate which options are likely to reduce environmental impacts.

When establishing formal improvement targets, be sure to do the following:

• Base the target on a formal evaluation of improvement opportunities and actions (e.g., a review of the available disposal alternatives with waste treatment vendors) to calculate the amount and types of wastes that can be treated by the preferred method.
  • For example: Setting a target based on an evaluation of sending all fabric and plastic packaging to a recycling vendor as opposed to sending it to landfill is expected to result in a 25% increase in waste sent for recycling. OR
  • Setting a target to send metal sludge to recycling as opposed to landfill, resulting in a 10% increase in waste sent for recycling.
  • Note: It should be confirmed that the vendor is able to recycle the materials and has applicable technology and operating permits to do so.
• Define the exact target quantity, expressed as a percent (e.g., Increase waste treated by incineration with energy recovery by 15%). This must be based on a formal evaluation as noted above.
• Define the start date (i.e., “baseline”) of the target.
• Define the end date of the target, meaning the intended completion date of the required improvements.
• Establish procedures to review the target. This review should include an evaluation of the actions taken and progress on reaching the defined target. Quarterly reviews are recommended.
• Ensure the target is relevant to improving the facility’s waste disposal methods (e.g., new disposal methods result in less environmental impact)

Reporting Targets in the Higg FEM:

Do:

• Review the target to ensure all aspects noted above are covered and that the information is accurate.  
• Enter the targeted reduction as a percentage. Make sure to enter a negative percentage for a reduction target (e.g. -5 for a 5% decrease in disposal method), and a positive percentage for an increased target (e.g. 5 for a 5% increase in disposal method)
• Provide sufficient details on how the target will be met in the “Describe the measures planned to achieve this target:” field (e.g. Achieve a 10% increase in waste being recycled by sending fabric scrap to a verified fibre recycling vendor).

Do Not:

• Report a target that is not accurate (e.g., the data source is unknown or has not been verified)
• Report a target that is based on insufficient data. (e.g., a reduction target that is not based on a formal evaluation of options such as new waste treatment vendors OR actions to meet the target have not been defined.)
• Report an estimated target if it is not supported by verifiable and accurate estimation methodology and data (e.g., engineering calculations).

Wsttargetdisp Verification And Scoring

How This Will Be Verified:

When verifying a facility’s targets, Verifiers must review:

• All supporting evidence (e.g., calculations, waste quantity data and baselines, new/proposed waste treatment methods, etc) to verify the target is based on a formal evaluation of improvement opportunities. 
• Facility operations in relation to its waste disposal to ensure targets and opportunities evaluated are relevant to the site’s wastes.

If any inconsistencies or errors are noted, the reported information must be corrected where possible and detailed comments should be included in the Verification Data field.

Full Points:

Full Points will be awarded if the facility has established targets to improve one (1) or more of its waste disposal methods.

If the criteria for Not Applicable is met, meaning the facility disposes of all wastes using preferred disposal methods, full points will be awarded for this question.

Documentation Required: 

• Documentation that supports how the target was established for each waste disposal method and is based on a formal evaluation of improvement opportunities. This may include:
  • Waste quantity tracking and production data.
  • Documented evaluations of new/proposed waste treatment methods (e.g. waste vendor capacity evaluations).  
  • Supporting calculations methodologies or assumptions used to determine the target.

Interview Questions to Ask: 

• Staff responsible for waste management are able to describe how the targets were determined including any calculations or assumptions made in the target setting methodology. 
• Relevant staff are able to describe the facility’s proposed actions to achieve the target and how progress is monitored and tracked.

Inspection – Things to Physically Look For: 

• The observed waste management practices on-site are appropriate in relation to the established targets (e.g., tracking of waste quantity if applicable, waste segregation, etc.)

Partial Points: N/A