AA Sust Report 2006 - Rio Tinto

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17 07 ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Environmental standards are in place to provide direction. These standards form the basis of AAM's environmental management system. Protecting the environment for future generations lies at the heart of AAM's sustainable development activities. Our industry is raw material intensive including energy in particular. Our activities also produce greenhouse gas and fluoride emissions and waste by-products. At AAM, we believe our ongoing sustainability depends on our record of responsible management of resources and the environment. Our stakeholders expect AAM to take responsibility for environmental management. AAM continues to host local councillors on an annual basis for its Council Liaison Committee when the smelter reviews environmental performance and outlines future plans. The Environment Agency and Department of Public Protection also participate in order to consolidate the value of these discussions. AAM also employs the services of a veterinary surgeon to carry out bone biopsies at various farm locations on behalf of the local farming community. Environmental aspects associated with AAM activities have been identified and scored to determine significance. Those determined to have significant impacts based upon the scoring criteria were defined as significant environmental aspects. Targets and objectives were developed to reduce their negative environmental impacts. Table 1 contains some of the environmental aspects that the process determined to be significant or even potentially significant. TABLE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS Electrical Energy Use Hazardous Wastes Releases to Air Discharge to Water Mineral Wastes Greenhouse Gases Hazardous Materials Use Noise Air Quality IMPROVEMENT INDICATOR AAM achieved certification to ISO 14001 in 2001. The British Standards Institution (BSI) is an independent auditor which audited AAM's progress in October 2005 and found that the operation has progressed sufficiently to be recommended for certification to the new ISO 14001 standard requirements. Total Fluoride Emissions and Metal Tonnage Produced 1971 - Present 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Kg Fluoride/Day tonnage metal per annum 1971- 1975- 1979- 1983- 1987- 1991- 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 High concentrations of fluoride can negatively impact on local vegetation and AAM continues to look for ways to minimise emissions of fluoride from the site. The Environment Agency licence limit of 1.3kg/t Al was met during 2005 with an average result of 1.1kg/t Al, slightly above the internal target of 1.0kg/t Al. The long term plan is to reduce this further to 0.9kg/t Al by 2007 through projects such as the introduction of new cell hoods and continued maintenance of the gas treatment equipment. IMPROVEMENT INDICATOR 160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 We have installed “real time” analysers in the reduction and carbon areas that use laser technology, enabling us to monitor fluoride trends and alter work practices on an ongoing basis. Oystercatcher chick New trees being planted in the Penrhos Coastal Park
Emma Harrison, Environmentalist, Organisational Support and Stephen Roberts, Environmentalist, Organisational Support Waste Reduction AAM produces a combination of non-hazardous and hazardous wastes from the various process areas. Much of the waste produced is recycled, reused or sold with a view to minimising waste to landfill. In one of the best examples of sustainable development, AAM is leading the way in finding an alternative use for one of the primary aluminium's largest byproducts. AAM transported 50 tonnes of Spent Pot Liner (SPL) to the Jesse Brough Metals Group in 2005 as part of a sustainability trial for the cement industry. SPL contains silica, alumina and fluoride components, which are useful to the process of cement manufacture. The trial was a total success and attracted the support of the UK Environment Agency. IMPROVEMENT INDICATOR In a win-win situation AAM will aim to reduce 80 percent of SPL through recycling in 2007 and reduce the burden on UK hazardous landfill. One initiative proposed by the AAM environment team has improved the management of waste disposal at the site. Paper, scrap wood and scrap steel is now recovered for recycling and no longer sent to landfill. At AAM we recycled approximately 4,675 tonnes of material in 2005. Recycling this material has saved AAM approximately £36,000 in landfill tax alone. Pictured are Owain Hughes, Claudia Owen, Katrina Daniel and Lucy Holland from Cemaes Primary School presenting a squirrel nest-box to one of the Anglesey Aluminium Environmental Team, Stephen Roberts Dealing with environmental incidents At AAM an environmental license non-compliance is also a Rio Tinto Category Two environmental incident. During 2005 AAM recorded eight non-compliances. These incidents arose when hydrogen fluoride emissions from the Pot Rooms and Carbon Bake exceeded our limits for a short duration. Although these incidents had little or no impact on the environment, reports were issued to the UK Environment Agency along with plans for corrective actions. IMPROVEMENT INDICATOR At the end of 2005 there were no outstanding non-compliance issues. Achievements in Biodiversity Owain Hughes, Claudia Owen, Katrina Daniel and Lucy Holland from Cemaes Primary School presented a squirrel nest-box to one of the Anglesey Aluminium’s Environmental Team members - Steve Roberts. The school's Project on the Anglesey Red Squirrels recently won a national competition. As part of its tree planting and biodiversity programme, AAM is planning to introduce a small population of Red Squirrels into the wooded areas close to the plant site. PAPER - 8.6 TONNES The paper is collected for recycling by Antur Waunfawr. Antur Waunfawr offers training and employment opportunities to people with learning difficulties. WOOD - 165 TONNES The wood is collected and chipped. This chipped wood is then made into chipboard. SCRAP STEEL - 1,502 TONNES Scrap steel is collected then sorted and then reprocessed into useable steel. REFRACTORY MATERIAL - 3,000 TONNES Good refractory material is crushed up and used in making refractory material and other material is used for hardcore. 18
Page 1 and 2: www.angleseyaluminium.co.uk sustain
Page 3 and 4: Welcome to the 2005 Anglesey Alumin
Page 5 and 6: Harri Evans, Operator, Carbon 4
Page 7 and 8: Karen Hughes, Industrial Hygiene Te
Page 9 and 10: 03 OUR BUSINESS APPROACH Achieving
Page 11 and 12: Derek Jones, Electrical Craftsman,
Page 13 and 14: 05 COMMUNITIES Supporting sustainab
Page 15 and 16: 06 PEOPLE COMMITMENT People achievi
Page 17: 07 ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Makin
Page 21 and 22: 09 PERFORMANCE SUMMARY John Jeffrey

AA Sust Report 2006 - Rio Tinto

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