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Waste Elimination

Eliminating waste entirely is a bold and ambitious vision, but we feel good about our progress. Since 1998, Raytheon has reduced hazardous waste by 81 percent and solid waste by 75 percent, normalized by revenue. During 2006, we generated 426 tons of solid waste and 56 tons of hazardous waste per billion dollars of sales. We recycled 59 percent of the waste we generated — our highest rate ever. These metrics are collected monthly and reported quarterly to our Board of Directors.

Pollution Prevention
Pollution prevention is at the core of our waste minimization efforts. One example is our cooperative effort with the U.S. Air Force at Air Force Plant 44 in Tucson, Ariz. Four alternatives to hexavalent chromium-based conversion coatings plus two chromium-free paint primers were qualified by a team comprised of Raytheon and the National Defense Center for Environmental Excellence. The effort was in response to new environmental and health regulations.

EHS Audit Program
Our robust internal EHS audit program performs an average of 25 audits per year. The average audit cycle time for major operating locations is three to five years. Locations are prioritized for audits based upon risk and the complexity of their operations. Internally developed protocol questions are used in the audits to assess compliance with federal and company EHS requirements. A corporate staff member leads each audit team, which includes members from multiple operating locations. Audit results are reported up through the business presidents and, ultimately, to the CEO.

In 2006, we developed and deployed a formal process to enable locations that have demonstrated exemplary EHS performance over the past two years to apply for a waiver of selected EHS audit protocols. The program allows us to apply our EHS audit resources more effectively to where they are needed most. Our first applicant, Raytheon’s facility in Aurora, Colo., succeeded in waiving four of the five audit protocols. The location was audited for Asset Protection programs only and received an “A” grade for the protocol. This site has also achieved “Star Site” status under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Voluntary Protection Program and participates in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Performance Track program.

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Photo: The Holmes Run Stream travels through Raytheon’s Falls Church, Va., property. The employees at Falls Church have volunteered to care for the portion of this stream that is located on Raytheon’s property as part of Virginia’s Adopt-A-Stream program.