Processing
a promise of optimisation in the processing of your waste."
Processing
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Compartment design
Schematic view of the compartment containment
Receiving your waste
We receive your household and similar waste at our La Vautubière storage facility for non-hazardous waste.
Each lorry undergoes a reception procedure comprising:
1 identification of the lorry,
2 checking of the lorry's load,
3 quality control during unloading,
4 sorting and compacting the waste.
1. Identification of the lorry
At its arrival on site, each lorry is logged with its registration number, already included in our computer system, enabling us to ensure that the waste brought to us has undergone an authorisation process with the prior creation of an information sheet.
Our site is able to receive all types of vehicles and specifically refuse-collection vehicles of varying sizes, flat-bed trucks and crane trucks.
2. Checking of the lorry's load
Each lorry has its load checked when it enters the site with:
- a check at the gateway for detection of radioactivity,
- double weighing, both when full and empty, recorded on the computer,,
- a visual inspection by the receiving operator, carried out with a video camera.
Each suspect lorry is asked to wait for more thorough checks in the area provided for this purpose. Upon receiving the lorry, the pricing classification of the waste being brought is defined.
Once these checks have been carried out, the lorry is authorised to come and empty its load into the cell in operation before returning to the receiving zone for empty weighing (if necessary).
The receiving operator records transition to the second weighbridge (if necessary) and edits the weight note. The latter is established automatically with all the details of the provider, and the dates and times of entrance to and exit from the site.
3. Quality control during unloading
When the lorry arrives in the bay it is directed towards the waste unloading zone, under the control of one of our company's operators. A weather station is permanently in action with a wind gauge and computerised data recording to help choose the best location to unload.
If the quality of the waste is not compliant, our company's unloading operator signals this to the lorry driver and the receiving operator by radio (or GSM), as well as the compactor operator.
4.Sorting and compacting the waste
The waste is deposited in 3000 m2 cells, protected by anti-wind nets to stop paper flying away.
It is immediately picked up by the compactor and spread in layers of between 30 and 50 cm in thickness. Maximum compacting is obtained with CATERPILLAR 836H engines. The quality of compacting is ensured by passing over the waste several times: the engine passes over the waste a minimum of 5 times .
Our safety and quality measures
ISO standard 14001 recommends a number of measures to take in case of operational incidents.
Safeguarding the loading check
The first safeguard is the loading check with compulsory passing in front of the radioactivity detection gate and a visual inspection, with a video camera, completed by a direct inspection.
Safeguarding the unloading check
If the quality of waste does not comply with the regulations, the unloading operator signals this to the lorry driver and, by radio, to the receiving operator, who is located at the weighbridge, and finally to the compactor operator.
The non-compliance of waste is entered into the computer system, with information registered about the weight note.
Fire safety
The third safeguard is put in place at all the site's operation points:
- 500 m3 of earth to smother any fire outbreaks,
- 3 mobile sprinklers,
- 1 northern reservoir with 8000 m3 of water,
- 1 central reservoir with 4000 m3 of water,
- 3 fire hydrants with a flow of 60 m3/h.
All our staff are also trained for any incidents that might occur. The directorate of inspections for safety services (DISS)organises safety exercises with our staff annually.
Guarding the site
he fourth safeguard is the presence outside of opening hours – at night, during the weekends and public holidays – of a private security firm, along with two S.S.I.A.P. 1 (safety, security, fire, helping people) qualified operators. These operators are specially trained in fire procedures.
Regional environment directorate checks
The fifth safeguard is monthly checks by the regional environment directorate (DREAL) and its supervisor, Mr Mounier, who monitors the site's operation.
The company's quality measures
The directors of SMA Environnement decided to initiate quality measures as soon as they obtained operation of the Vautubière side. These were launched on 2 May 2006 and we were certified on 13 November 2006, demonstrating a desire to achieve ISO standard 14001, renewed in November 2009.
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