Criterion: Waste Management
Policies and documented plans for responsible management of all waste types, including hazardous waste, with reduction targets, proper storage, and use of authorized vendors.
Full Description
ENV04 Waste Management
Standard Section: 7.4 Category: Environmental Scheme: Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) Standard Version: 2.0 for Piloting (effective April 30, 2025)
Overview
Policies and documented plans for responsible management of all waste types, including hazardous waste, with reduction targets, proper storage, and use of authorized vendors.
Requirements
The Facility shall:
- 7.4.1 Establish a documented policy that includes commitments to manage all waste responsibly, dispose all wastes in accordance with applicable laws, and prohibit the export of hazardous waste in alignment with the Basel Convention. This policy shall address all hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated through all business operations.
- 7.4.2 Maintain a documented inventory of waste sources and waste streams, and waste treatment and methods of disposition.
- 7.4.3 Establish and document a baseline for waste production, in the absence of reduction activities, with identification of waste sources, waste streams, volumes of waste generated, and methods for storing, transporting, treating, and disposing of waste.
- 7.4.4 Establish documented waste reduction targets and action plans to improve waste management practices and monitor achievement of targets, utilizing the waste mitigation hierarchy. The plan shall include measures for:
- 7.4.4.1 Separating waste types, especially incompatible wastes, stored at the Facility.
- 7.4.4.2 Storing wastes in containers that are in good condition, compatible with the wastes being stored, and labelled in the appropriate language(s) for the workforce, in accordance with applicable laws.
- 7.4.4.3 Conducting regular documented inspections of waste generation, storage, and management areas.
- 7.4.4.4 Reducing the amount of time waste is stored on-site before it is sent for off-site treatment or disposal.
- 7.4.5 Obtain and operate in compliance with waste management authorizations, approvals, and registrations where necessary.
- 7.4.6 Establish a documented waste management plan for all hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated at the Facility, with consideration for on-site storage and disposal facilities.
- 7.4.7 Establish a documented waste management plan that identifies actions to prevent and mitigate risks associated with mineral wastes.
- 7.4.8 Use authorized and legally permitted waste management vendors for the transportation, treatment, and disposal of all wastes generated by the Facility, and maintain records for all off-site waste management.
Source: RMI Facility Standard for Social, Environmental, OHS and Governance Risks, Version 2.0 for Piloting (April 2025), Section 7.4
Profiles using this criterion
Responsible Minerals Assurance Process
Conformity Alignment
Meets
Pass: Yes
Definition: "Facility has a documented waste management policy (including Basel Convention compliance), maintains a documented inventory of all waste streams and disposal methods, has established waste baselines, documented waste reduction targets and action plans using the mitigation hierarchy, holds all required waste management authorizations, uses only authorized vendors for off-site waste disposal, and maintains records of all off-site waste management activities."
Partially Meets
Pass: No
Definition: "Waste management system exists but is incomplete: e.g., policy covers some waste types but not all (hazardous or non-hazardous), waste inventory is maintained but not regularly updated, reduction targets are set but not monitored, waste management plan exists for some but not all waste streams, or authorized vendors are used but records of off-site disposal are incomplete."
Remediation: 180 days
Does Not Meet
Pass: No
Definition: "No documented waste management policy, no waste inventory, no waste reduction targets or action plans, no waste management authorizations where required, or use of unauthorized waste management vendors."
Remediation: 90 days
Priority
Pass: No
Definition: "A Priority finding may be raised for unsafe disposal or storage of hazardous waste or chemicals that poses immediate risk to worker or community health, in alignment with the severe environmental damage conditions in Annex I of the Operations Manual."
Remediation: 30 days
Not Applicable
Pass: Yes
Definition: "This criterion is not applicable only if the facility generates no waste of any kind, which is not typical of any processing operation."
Not Able To Assess
Pass: No
Definition: "The assessor was unable to access waste records, disposal manifests, vendor contracts, or inspect waste storage and treatment areas."
Change Log
1.0.0 (2026-06-24)
Initial release.