Waste Management
Copel has a waste management process designed to promote the proper management of solid waste, from generation to final disposal, prevent negative environmental impacts, and maximize positive ones, thereby ensuring compliance with both legal requirements and the conditions of environmental permits.
As established by the National Solid Waste Policy, the Company has a Solid Waste Management Plan (PGRS) for its facilities, adapting corporate guidelines to the specific characteristics of each location. Solid waste management involves periodically reviewing legal requirements and environmental conditions, identifying best practices and opportunities in the sector, planning activities, verifying compliance, and continuously improving the process. Waste management is part of the scope of the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and is periodically evaluated through internal and certification audits, ensuring legal compliance, traceability, and continuous improvement of environmental processes.
Copel follows the guidelines for solid waste management established by the National Solid Waste Policy, enacted by Federal Law No. 12,305/2010 and regulated by Decree No. 10,936/2022, adhering to the order of priority in waste management: non-generation, reduction, reuse, recycling, treatment, and, finally, environmentally sound final disposal of waste. The Company seeks to promote integrated management and the environmentally sound management of waste, with a focus on sustainability, legal compliance, and the reduction of environmental impacts.
Since 2009, Copel has adopted the ‘3Rs’ principle of for the management of its waste, as set forth in an internal corporate waste management policy, which states that “all employees, in the performance of their duties at Copel, must practice conscious consumption by adhering to the ‘3Rs’ concept: reduce, reuse, and recycle. The Solid Waste Management Manual provides practical guidance on waste management within the Company.”
To further consolidate a culture of waste management, workshops and training sessions are held for teams, focusing on the guidelines of the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS), potential negative environmental impacts, the benefits of proper waste management, and the identification of opportunities for improvement. These initiatives create opportunities for dialogue, answer questions, and increase employee awareness and engagement in sustainable practices and in reducing waste generation, in alignment with the Company’s ESG practices.
The Company’s waste management follows the guidelines set forth in Copel Administrative Standard – NAC 030350: Corporate Waste Management and the Waste Management Manual. Solid waste generated is properly sorted immediately after it is produced according to its type and is stored in specific storage areas until it is sent for appropriate final disposal, which is determined based on its classification, characteristics, and applicable legal requirements. In this way, the Company seeks to minimize potential negative impacts, such as soil and groundwater contamination. The quantity of waste generated and disposed of is periodically monitored through control systems.
Manual for Transporting Hazardous Substances
Manual for Developing the PGRCC
Waste Generation
At Copel, the main sources of waste generation are the construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of projects.
During the construction of new projects, construction waste is generated, such as soil removed from the sites where structures are installed, wood from the packaging of materials and equipment, other recyclable waste such as plastics, paper, and cardboard, and metals, as well as waste from paints and solvents.
Copel establishes strict criteria for the technical and documentary qualification of contractors, ensuring compliance with legal and environmental requirements. These requirements are formalized in contractual clauses and apply to various services. For civil construction projects, contractors must ensure the proper management and disposal of waste by developing and implementing a PGRCC – Construction Waste Management Plan, in accordance with the Copel Manual. Upon completion of the project, it is mandatory to submit a Final Waste Management Report. As for companies responsible for the transportation and disposal of waste, they must demonstrate technical compliance at the start of the contract and submit the relevant environmental documentation.
During the operation and maintenance of these facilities, various types of waste are generated, such as: vegetative waste from pruning and mowing vegetation beneath power distribution and transmission networks and lines; waste from replaced electrical and electronic materials and equipment, such as batteries, meters, insulators, transformers, voltage regulators, circuit breakers, and other electrical equipment; metal scrap; cables; poles; and crossarms. In addition to these, contaminated solid and liquid waste is generated from equipment maintenance.
When facilities are decommissioned, a wide variety of waste is generated, such as electrical equipment, conductive cables, poles and crossarms, and metal scrap, among others.
Administrative activities primarily generate recyclable waste such as paper, plastic, glass, and metals; organic waste; and refuse such as food scraps, yard and street-sweeping waste, and sanitary waste; as well as hazardous waste requiring specific handling, such as batteries, fluorescent lamps, and printer cartridges and toners.
The Company seeks to promote integrated management and environmentally sound waste management, with a focus on sustainability. Among the initiatives implemented, the following stand out: internal targets; training programs focused on waste management with an emphasis on minimizing waste generation; expanding reuse practices; installing informational signs; distributing internal communications to raise awareness among employees and third parties; and promoting the donation of waste such as paper, plastic, glass, and metals for general or specialized recycling. Copel prioritizes the reuse of waste through more efficient treatment and final disposal techniques that offer better environmental performance.
Waste Destination
For the disposal of recyclable administrative waste, priority is given to delivery to associations of recyclable material collectors through the Solidarity-Based Selective Collection program. As for organic material, the priority is composting.
For waste that poses a risk to public health and the environment, final disposal is carried out by contracted companies that demonstrate technical qualifications and hold environmental licenses.
The table below lists the main types of waste generated by operational activities and the final disposal methods adopted.
Type of waste | Destination method |
Paper, plastic, glass, metal scraps, batteries, electrical and electronic equipment, concrete poles and crosses, transformers and other network equipment | Recycling |
Contaminated waste | Coprocessing and/or landfill for Class 1 waste |
Waste contaminated with PCBs | Decontamination and/or Incineration |
Plant waste (prunings) | Composting and/or landfilling for Class 2 waste |
Recycling is the process of altering the physical, chemical, or biological properties of solid waste with the aim of transforming it into raw materials or new products.
Copel’s solid waste recycling is aligned with the principles of sustainable development, as it reduces the consumption of raw materials and generates value.
Recyclable waste generated by the Company’s administrative activities is sent to associations of recyclable material collectors, thereby providing an income boost for these organizations and their members.
At the Company’s facilities, cleaning crews receive training to ensure that waste is sorted correctly, and employees are instructed on the proper way to separate and place waste in labeled bins in accordance with CONAMA Resolution No. 275/2001.
Recyclable waste generated during operational activities is sent to companies specializing in recycling, where it is reused in other production processes, generating value for these companies and for Copel.
Reverse Logistics is a tool for economic and social development characterized by a set of actions, procedures, and means designed to facilitate the collection and return of solid waste to the business sector for reuse—either within its own production cycle or in other production cycles—or for another environmentally appropriate final disposition.
At Copel, waste with commercial value—such as scrap metal, batteries, decommissioned equipment, used lubricating oils, and used insulation materials—is sold to companies that demonstrate technical qualifications and hold the necessary environmental permits for environmentally sound final disposal.
This process aims to manage waste with added economic value by returning it to the production chain through the recycling and reuse of materials.
According to SINIR—the National Information System on Solid Waste Management—the benefits of reverse logistics include:
- Encouraging the reuse, recycling, and treatment of waste;
- Extending the useful life of landfills by diverting waste that can be reintroduced into the production chain;
- Sharing responsibility for waste management among the public sector, the private sector, and civil society;
- Increasing efficiency in the use of natural resources;
- Expanding the supply of environmentally friendly products, generating jobs and income; and
- Expanding opportunities for new business ventures.
Composting is the biological transformation of organic waste, such as food scraps and yard waste, carried out under aerobic conditions by a diverse group of organisms, resulting in nutrient-rich compost.
Composting offers an alternative to the disposal of organic waste, which can be reused; it is a technique that aligns with the concept of sustainable development.
At some Copel facilities, organic material produced in cafeterias and offices is primarily directed toward composting, through which the waste is managed and used as fertilizer (compost) for producing seedlings and fertilizing flower beds and gardens.
Plant waste resulting from tree-pruning activities beneath the power distribution network is, whenever feasible, sent for off-site composting.
This technology involves the use of pre-processed waste (BLEND) as substitutes for non-renewable fuels and/or raw materials used in cement production at properly licensed plants.
Maintenance activities at power plants and substations generate Class 1 waste—classified as hazardous—most of which has the composition and calorific value suitable for disposal through the co-processing technique.
Contaminated solid and liquid waste with combustion potential is collected by companies contracted specifically for this purpose and sent to clinker production kilns in cement plants; in this way, the energy contained in these materials is harnessed, yielding enormous environmental benefits.
According to the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS), environmentally sound final disposal consists of the orderly placement of waste in landfills, in compliance with specific operational standards designed to prevent harm or risks to public health and safety and to minimize adverse environmental impacts.
Copel prioritizes the effective use of the waste it generates through reuse, recycling, and other treatment and final disposal techniques. However, when there are no remaining options for treatment and recovery using available and economically viable technological processes, final disposal is carried out in duly licensed industrial landfills.
Innovation in Waste Management
Copel reaffirms its commitment to innovation and sustainability through Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) initiatives that strengthen its power generation businesses and promote sustainable development in the state of Paraná. Among its most recent projects, those focused on producing low-carbon hydrogen from alternative sources—such as biomass and organic waste—stand out, aligning with the national energy transition.
In 2023, Copel Geração e Transmissão (Copel GET) launched a public call for proposals to select RDI projects focused on technologies for producing low-carbon hydrogen using biomass, biofuels, and organic waste. Three proposals were selected—coordinated by UFPR (PR), APRENO (RO), and SENAI (PE)—which will receive investments totaling approximately R$ 7.6 million.
Another project, conducted by the B2H2 Consortium led by Copel, proposes converting biogas from wastewater treatment plants into synthesis gas through catalytic reforming. The project has already mobilized more than R$ 32 million in investments from RD programs and consortium members, demonstrating its feasibility and relevance.
In 2025, Copel expanded its innovative approach to operational waste management with the launch of the Inova Resíduos Challenge, an open call for ideas focused on the recovery and reuse of waste generated by the Company’s activities. The initiative received 15 proposals. This initiative reinforces Copel’s commitment to the circular economy and operational sustainability.
In addition, the company maintains permanent channels for receiving innovative proposals, such as Inove+GET and InovaDIS, which allow for the continuous submission of projects, even outside of specific calls for proposals. These mechanisms strengthen a culture of open and collaborative innovation, promoting solutions that generate value for society, the environment, and the future of energy in Paraná.
Waste Management Indicators and Targets
With the goal of reducing the environmental impact of its activities, Copel has specific indicators and targets for the proper disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated by the Company’s operational and administrative activities.
Indicators
Sustainable Waste Disposal Rate for Total Waste: represents the total amount of waste diverted from final disposal and sent for recycling, co-processing, composting, and other forms of treatment; this indicator is aligned with the targets for achieving SDGs 3, 6, 11, 12, and 13. Thus, the higher the result, the better the environmental performance.
Sustainable Waste Disposal Rate for Hazardous Waste represents the total amount of hazardous waste diverted from final disposal and sent for recycling, co-processing, and other forms of treatment. Thus, the higher the result, the better the environmental performance.
Reduction in Ash Waste Generation: represents the decrease in the amount of ash generated during operational processes through process optimization, the use of cleaner technologies, or fuel substitution, contributing to the minimization of environmental impacts and aligning with the goals of SDGs 9, 12, and 13.
The table below provides information on the disposal rate and quantity of hazardous and non-hazardous waste:
Waste disposal rate (in tons)
| 2024 | 2025 | ||||||||
| Target | Performance | Target | Performance | ||||||
| Landfill and incineration | Non-hazardous | 8% | 5,916,16 | 5.76% | 4,256.90 | 8% | 6,243.23 | 3.75% | 2,923.80 |
| Hazardous | 5% | 187.96 | 0.54% | 20.30 | 5% | 288.96 | 0.42% | 24.40 | |
| Recycled and Reused | Non-hazardous | 92% | 68,035.84 | 94% | 69,694.70 | 92% | 71,797.17 | 96.25% | 75,116.60 |
| Hazardous | 95% | 3,571.24 | 99% | 3,738.90 | 95% | 5,490.15 | 99.58% | 5,754.70 | |
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| 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
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| Target | Performance | Target | Performance | ||||
Landfill and incineration | Non-hazardous | 8% | 3,770.75 | 7.50% | 3,533.00 | 8% | 5,916.16 | 5.76% | 4,256.90 |
Hazardous | 5% | 212.32 | 1% | 38.20 | 5% | 187.96 | 0.54% | 20.30 | |
Recycled and Reused | Non-hazardous | 92% | 43,363.65 | 92.5% | 43,601.40 | 92% | 8,035.84 | 94% | 9,694.70 |
Hazardous | 95% | 4,034.08 | 99% | 4,208.20 | 95% | 3,571.24 | 99% | 3,738.90 | |
Reduction in Ash Waste Generation | n/d | n/d | n/d | n/d | 90% |
| 94,08 |
|
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Regarding ash waste, the goal for 2024 was to generate a maximum of 10% of what was generated in 2023. This premise took into account the need to carry out some operational tests so that the Figueira thermoelectric plant could be shut down in February 2024.
