GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East

GM Ecuador

The use of electrostatic applicators in basecoat and clearcoat applications was implemented during 2006 to reduce VOC emissions.

Emissions to Water

In Colombia and South Africa, GM commissioned other initiatives to ensure conformance with the Environmental Performance Criteria (EPC) and the protection of water quality:

• In Colombia, a project was developed for the design, construction, start-up, and stabilization of a biological wastewater treatment system.  The system includes equalization, aeration, secondary treatment, sludge clarifier, and sludge-dewatering units.
• At the Delta Motors automobile assembly units in South Africa, initiatives to remove chromium and paraffin from manufacturing processes have been combined with the construction of treatment plants to address discharges of electro-coating-related wastewater discharges.
• At GM Ecuador, conversion to lead-free ELPO during 2005 reduced soluble lead discharged to municipal sewerage system from 16 Kg as [Pb 3+] during 2004 to less than 0.01 Kg during 2005.

• A project to implement the biological wastewater treatment system (BWTS) has been approved.  The BWTS will process around 600 m3 of domestic wastewater that is currently being discharged directly to municipal sewerage system.
• GM Ecuador has contributed with donations to environmental development programs in Quito.  The most important project involved the remediation and recovery of the main body of water in the city.