Waste Management
EGAT places great importance on managing waste generated from its operations across all processes. The organization is committed to preventing and minimizing potential impacts on stakeholders throughout the value chain, as well as on the environment and other living organisms within surrounding ecosystems.
| Targets for 2024 | Performance |
| ● Utilize 215,000 tons of waste materials, including fly ash, bottom ash and gypsum, for beneficial purposes. | ● A total of 856,092 tons of waste materials (fly ash, bottom ash and gypsum) were successfully repurposed for beneficial use. |
| ● Ensure full compliance with relevant laws and regulations. | ● All waste management practices were conducted in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and the conditions outlined in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) reports for each project. |
Policy and Commitment
EGAT has officially adopted a Circular Economy Policy, which is implemented across all departments and communicated to all personnel. The policy emphasizes efficient resource utilization, waste reduction, and increased reuse of waste materials, with the ultimate goal of achieving Zero Waste to Landfill. To support this commitment, EGAT has developed a Circular Economy Strategic Plan and implemented three key projects related to waste management:
- Utilization of Fly Ash, Bottom Ash, and Gypsum
- Value Creation from Leonadite Extracted During Mining Operations
- Industrial Waste Management Toward Zero Waste to Landfill
These projects focus on repurposing by-products from coal-fired power generation and mining operations, as well as industrial waste from electricity production, for use in other industries. Examples include using these materials as raw inputs in the cement and construction sectors, agriculture or as alternative fuels in other types of factories. In 2024, all three projects successfully met their targets for beneficial waste utilization.
Management
EGAT strictly complies with all relevant laws, regulations, and environmental management systems (ISO 14001), as well as circular economy principles. The organization also adheres to environmental impact mitigation and monitoring measures outlined in each project’s EIA/EHIA reports. Waste management data is regularly submitted to regulatory authorities and relevant agencies within the required timeframes.
EGAT conducts internal audits, external certification assessments, and management reviews to monitor waste management performance. A centralized waste management database has been established to analyze overall waste handling practices and explore options for reducing waste from production processes. The goal is to maximize the reuse of waste materials and eliminate landfill or incineration, in alignment with the National Certification Standard (NTC 10-2565) for Industrial Waste Management Toward Zero Landfill.
Furthermore, EGAT promotes stakeholder engagement in waste management through the application of circular economy principles, in accordance with the National Certification Standard (NTC 2-2562). The organization collaborates with external partners to repurpose waste for use in other industries. For example, Ceramic Heat Shields, high-temperature insulation materials from power plant combustion chambers, are reused as raw materials in the refractory ceramics industry.
EGAT also organizes activities to strengthen relationships with circular economy system management agencies, aiming to advance sustainable development. These include site visits and knowledge-sharing events to foster understanding, exchange perspectives, and build cooperation among stakeholders. Additionally, EGAT partners with academic institutions to conduct research and develop innovative approaches for repurposing waste, reducing reliance on landfilling.
Waste Generated from EGAT Activities
Waste generated from EGAT’s operations can be categorized into two primary sources:
- Operational waste from power plants
- Waste from office-related activities
These wastes are further classified into hazardous and non-hazardous types. While some waste can be repurposed, others must be disposed of through landfilling or incineration. EGAT ensures that all waste requiring disposal is handled by legally authorized entities and regularly monitors their operations. As a result, properly managed waste has minimal or no impact on surrounding communities and the environment.
Waste Management at Power Plant Sites
EGAT has established procedures for managing waste from electricity generation, mining, and transmission systems. These include:
All waste, both hazardous and non-hazardous, is documented by type and quantity, sorted according to its properties and stored in secure containers within clearly designated storage areas. These measures prevent chemical reactions, spills and leaks and include systems to prevent contamination and environmental dispersion.
- Standard operating procedures for waste collection
- Emergency response protocols for chemical or waste spills
- Provision of containment equipment
- Regular emergency drills
EGAT evaluates all waste management options to maximize resource utilization:
- Reusable waste is recycled or reused internally. Waste with potential for external industrial use is managed in collaboration with partner organizations to minimize landfill disposal.
- Non-reusable waste from production processes is sent to authorized disposal facilities certified by the Department of Industrial Works. EGAT reports the quantity and disposal methods in its biannual environmental impact mitigation and monitoring reports to relevant authorities.
Waste Management in Office Areas
Waste generated from office activities including administrative offices, medical facilities and vehicle fleets is managed through a comprehensive waste separation guide. Waste is classified into five categories:
- General waste
- Biodegradable waste
- Recyclable waste
- Hazardous waste
- Orphan/Energy waste
All waste is collected, sorted, and sent to authorized disposal facilities. EGAT monitors these processes through environmental management system audits (ISO 14001).
In 2024, no significant impacts or major waste spills were reported. EGAT has established mitigation measures, natural resource and environmental restoration plans and compensation protocols for affected parties in the event of external waste leakage. These actions are carried out in coordination with relevant agencies to ensure effective response and recovery.
Waste generated
| Waste and waste management | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||
| 1. Total waste classified by type (ton) | ||||||
| Hazardous waste | 1,959.25 | 1844.14 | 1575.22 | |||
| Hazardous waste from coal mine | – | 113,134,973.67 | n/a | |||
| – Overburden | 106,604,152.78 | – | n/a | |||
| – Rock waste | – | – | n/a | |||
| – Tailings | – | – | n/a | |||
| Total | 106,606,122.03 | 113,136,817.81 | 1575.22 | |||
| Non-hazardous waste | 4,422,978.06 | 4,696,118.56 | 5,940.68 | |||
| Non-hazardous waste from coal mine | – | – | n/a | |||
| – Overburden | – | – | n/a | |||
| – Rock waste | – | – | n/a | |||
| – Tailings | – | – | n/a | |||
| Total | 4,422,978.06 | 4,696,118.56 | 5,940.68 | |||
| Total waste generated | 4,424,937.31 | 4,697,962.69 | 7,515.90 | |||
| 2. Waste diverted from disposal (ton) | ||||||
| Onsite | Offsite | Onsite | Offsite | Onsite | Offsite | |
| Hazardous waste | ||||||
| – Preparation for reuse | 0.02 | 56.56 | – | 24.81 | – | |
| – Recycling | – | 409.17 | – | 10.14 | – | 65.71 |
| – Other recovery operations | – | 1.56 | – | 0.01 | 27.40 | 0.05 |
| Hazardous waste from coal mine | ||||||
| – Preparation for reuse | – | – | – | – | n/a | n/a |
| – Recycling | – | – | – | – | n/a | n/a |
| – Other recovery operations | – | – | – | – | n/a | n/a |
| Total | 1,231,980.17 | 377.28 | 220.64 | |||
| Total waste diverted from disposal | 1,232,447.47 | 412.24 | 313.80 | |||
| 3. Waste directed to disposal (ton) | ||||||
| Onsite | Offsite | Onsite | Offsite | Onsite | Offsite | |
| Hazardous waste | ||||||
| – Incineration (with energy recovery) | – | 583.05 | – | 331.13 | – | 5.95 |
| – Incineration (without energy recovery) | – | 1.42 | – | 79.22 | – | 0.19 |
| – Landfilling | 0.05 | 376.53 | – | 13.63 | 1.24 | 205.00 |
| – Other disposal operations | 114.08 | 358.01 | 135.33 | 446.63 | 31.64 | 1,238.03 |
| Hazardous waste from coal mine | ||||||
| – Incineration (with energy recovery) | – | – | – | – | n/a | n/a |
| – Incineration (without energy recovery) | – | – | – | – | n/a | n/a |
| – Landfilling | – | – | – | – | n/a | n/a |
| – Other disposal operations | 106,604,152.78 | – | 113,134,973.67 | – | n/a | n/a |
| Total | 106,605,585.91 | 113,135,979.61 | 1,482.06 | |||
| Non-hazardous waste | ||||||
| – Incineration (with energy recovery) | – | 79.94 | 117.06 | – | 121.28 | |
| – Incineration (without energy recovery) | 0.70 | – | 55.00 | – | 10.98 | |
| – Landfilling | 79.45 | 3,655.31 | 2,864,652.22 | 1,191.12 | 1,319.65 | |
| – Other disposal operations | 3,186,276.23 | 885.96 | 7.12 | 1,086,142.08 | 20.31 | 3,056.70 |
| Non-hazardous waste from coal mine | ||||||
| – Incineration (with energy recovery) | – | – | – | – | n/a | n/a |
| – Incineration (without energy recovery) | – | – | – | – | n/a | n/a |
| – Landfilling | – | – | – | – | n/a | n/a |
| – Other disposal operations | – | – | – | – | n/a | n/a |
| Total | 3,190,519.92 | 3,952,215.53 | 5,720.04 | |||
| Total waste directed to disposal | 109,796,105.83 | 117,088,195.14 | 7,202.10 | |||
Note:
– Overburden: the rock or soil layer that needs to be removed in order to access the ore being mined. Overburden is normally kept near the mine pit until it is placed into a previously mined pit when the digging is completed. However, the overburden may not be placed back in the mine pit therefore, it needs a proper disposal.
– Rock waste: consists of rock and target minerals in concentrations too low for economic recovery. Waste form rock can affect environment such as dust which can be flown by wind or rainwater and have impact on air, water or soil quality.
– Tailings: is left-over materials from the processing of mined ore. They consist of ground rock, unrecoverable and uneconomic metals, chemicals and organic matters which can have an effect on water quality caused by tailings leaching such as acidity water and heavy metal contamination.
– In 2024, the amount of recycled waste/reused waste increased as the additional data of recycled waste is reported by Mae Moh Power Plant.