Orion generated around 8,327 tonnes of waste in 2009, which is notably less than in 2007 and 2008. The company aims to reduce the amount of landfill waste in particular.

The nature of Orion’s manufacturing operations and the composition of its products make most of the waste unsuitable or even hazardous for the purpose of re-use. Thus, incineration in efficient and sufficiently high temperatures at a hazardous waste treatment plant is the only applicable means of re-using the waste as energy. Hazardous waste has accounted for about 80 per cent of all waste on an annual level, and over 90 per cent of all hazardous waste is generated at Fermion’s plants. All the hazardous waste of Orion is treated at the Ekokem plant in Riihimäki.

Typical materials treated as hazardous waste include organic and inorganic chemicals and mixtures classified as hazardous or harmful, pharmaceutical waste, cytostatic waste, carcinogenic waste, batteries, fluorescent tubes, halogenated solvents, lubricating oils, oil-containing fabrics and filters, mercury waste, adhesive and paint containers and ashes from heavy fuel oil boilers.

The radioactive substances mentioned under “EN1 Materials use” that Orion Diagnostica uses in the manufacture of certain products generate small amounts of waste which are treated and disposed of according to guidelines received from STUK. The waste is first left to decay and then disposed of as dry waste in landfills or at hazardous waste treatment plants, although not because of radioactivity but because of chemicals.