What we do in San Silvestre
+60.000 tons of solid waste managed per year
Operating under strict technical and environmental standards that guarantee compliance with current regulations. The operation includes environmental control systems for the management of leachates, gases, rainwater and coverage
220.000 residents served
Collection, transportation and final disposal of the 220,000 residents of the Barrancabermeja district and its surrounding areas.
Leachate treatment by reverse osmosis
Infrastructure designed for the proper treatment of leachates, with lagoons strategically distributed to optimize their degradation. It has a capacity of 5 m³/h and an approximate annual effluent of 17 711 m³ of treated liquid (2024).
Comprehensive biodiversity conservation program
Installation of nesting structures, planting of more than 1,300 trees and operation of a nursery with a capacity for 5,000 native seedlings to favor the avifauna habitat, along with the measurement and management of the ecological footprint.
Initiatives with the Pato Bonito community, facing the park‘s entrance.
Local job creation, installation of 25 tanks with 4000 gallons of drinking water, 28 fans in homes and 4 air conditioners in La Gloria school. Waste collection 4 times/week, vector control and educational and cultural programs.
Employees in San Silvestre
23 Veolia Employees: 15 Final Disposal Operators, 2 Scale Operators, 1 Supervisor, 1 Leachate Treatment Leader, 1 Manager, 1 Coordinator, 1 Surveyor, 1 Sustainability Specialist
300 visitors per year
Including students from educational institutions, university students, representatives of control entities and other groups, who participate in guided technical tours.
300 tons of organic waste processed through composting techniques per year
Obtention of a natural fertilizer that has been used in revegetation and landscape recovery programs of the intervened areas of the final disposal site, thus contributing to the closure of the materials cycle and the reduction of the environmental footprint of the project.
Third-party scientific evidence
As part of its commitments to best practices and in line with its regulatory obligations, Veolia regularly commissions third-party environmental testing of its operations in San Silvestre.
Veolia is disclosing on this page the findings of the third parties’ environmental testing of its San Silvestre operations.
All these independent reports conclude that there is no environmental pollution originating from Veolia’s operations in San Silvestre.
In particular, in March 2025, the Colombian environmental authority (CAS) requested water and sediment sampling in its presence, at various sampling points including Caño Moncholo. Following the CAS’ request, independent laboratory tests of these samplings were conducted by environmental experts Anascol. The results of these laboratory tests confirmed the absence of detectable mercury levels.
Additional independent laboratory analyses by Anascol yielded the same results in June, November and December 2025.
Furthermore, a comprehensive hydrographic study, conducted in July 2025 by the independent expert firm IngeoExploraciones at the request of the CAS, demonstrated the absence of a connection between the site's runoff waters and the two bodies of water in the area: the “Caño Moncholo” and a natural lagoon to the east of the site.
Official statements by Veolia
Veolia has consistently prioritised transparency on this matter. We have briefed the media, stakeholders, and investors. Our Chairman, Antoine Frérot, has publicly addressed these issues at our Annual General Meeting.
More information
Here you may find more information about our operations at San Silvestre.