Sustainability Report 2005-2006
Department of the Environment and Water Resources, 2007
Australian Antarctic Division Environmental Performance
Hazardous Waste
EN31: Hazardous waste production and transport
Goals 2005-06
Implement a procurement system that minimises the quantity of hazardous materials stored at AAD while ensuring continuity of supply by 2006- Centralise hazardous materials to maintain control over the stocks including the elimination of duplication in stock ordering by 2006
Maintain inventory system, which identifies the stock holdings and location of all hazardous material- Implement chemical management procedures at stations to improve handling, waste and storage by 2006
Performance 2005-06 and trends
An inventory system for all hazardous materials has been implemented. AAD has also implemented a strategy to remove hazardous and surplus waste from the Kingston site. Over 97 tonnes of hazardous waste (16.1 kg/person at AAD Headquarters; 937.3 kg/person at Antarctic stations) was removed in 2004-05. The data for 2005-06 were not provided in total weights, so are not available for this report.
The following wastes, classified as 'controlled' under the National Environment Protection Measure for the Movement of Controlled Wastes between States and Territories, were repatriated from Antarctica to Australia in 2005-06:
- laboratory chemicals (256 kg)
- NiCd batteries (200 kg)
- fuel drums (12 100 kg)
- oil filters (65 kg)
- hydrocarbon mixtures (14 100 L)
- lead acid batteries (4335 kg)
- mineral oil (6000 L)
- cooking fats and oils (880 L)
- greywater (62 721 L)
- sewage sludge (26 000 L)
- asbestos (2255 kg)
- incinerator ash (4900 kg)
- mercury (21 kg)
- fuels and solvents (28 100 L)
- acid solutions (5312 L)
- oxidisers (20 L).
Control procedures for the storage and handling of hazardous materials have also been developed. A procurement system for hazardous waste minimization was not implemented, including centralizing materials and eliminating duplicate ordering.
Commentary
Hazardous materials, including polystyrene beads, PCBs, and radioactive materials, are prohibited from import into Antarctica.
Goals 2006-07
- Maintain inventory system, which identifies the stock holdings and location of all hazardous material
- Monitor chemical management procedures introduced at stations in 2006 to improve handling, waste and storage.
Related Indicators
Contents
- Sustainability Report 05-06
- Executive summary
- Vision and strategy
- Our organisation
- Governance
- Policy and influence
- Environmental performance
- Social performance
- Economic performance
- Report assurance statement
- Case studies
- GRI index
Key
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