Environmental Sustainability
Protecting and preserving the environment is a core element of Alcoa’s commitment to sustainability. Acknowledged as a world leader in some aspects of environmental management, we are continuously working to further improve our performance through technological innovation, community partnerships and conservation of resources.
Mine rehabilitation
Alcoa is regarded as a leader in mine site rehabilitation, with long-established and successful rehabilitation programs in Western Australia and Victoria.
A key component of our rehabilitation objective involves returning 100% of the botanical richness of the original environment. Rehabilitated areas are monitored 15 months after establishment to compare the richness of plant species with uncleared areas.
In 2005, the Victorian Government recognised the success of the Anglesea mine rehabilitation program with a commendation at the Strzelecki Awards for sustainable development. The Western Australian program has been recognised as one of the best ecological restoration programs in the world by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Society for Ecological Restoration International.
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Emissions reduction
Throughout our operations, we are working to reduce emissions through improvements in technology and operating practices.
In 2003, Alcoa achieved its target of reducing global direct greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent from a base year of 1990.
In Australia, Alcoa is addressing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency, productivity improvements and technological innovation.
Compared with 1990 levels, Alcoa has reduced the greenhouse intensity of our smelting operations by 57 per cent and the greenhouse intensity of our alumina refineries by 7.6 per cent.
All of our Australian operations report emissions to the National Pollutant Inventory, a Federal Government database which reports emissions from a variety of sources.
Waste reduction
From industrial by-products to kitchen scraps, Alcoa is reducing waste through recycling programs and cleaner production technology and processes.
Our operations have a variety of waste reduction and recycling programs and this focus on waste reduction has significantly reduced the amount of general and prescribed waste sent to landfill.
Portland Aluminium reduced general waste to landfill by 39% in 2005 and prescribed waste by 88%, while the Point Henry smelter reduced general waste by 40% and prescribed waste by 15%.
A glove recycling program introduced by the Western Australian operations in 2004 has recycled over 350,000 gloves that would previously have gone to landfill.
Other programs are recycling steel, glass, aluminium, drums, oil and air filters, batteries, plastics, paper and printer cartridges.
A triple-bin system in kitchens, canteens and lunchrooms separates recyclable and compostable materials and diverts them from landfill disposal to recycling facilities. Our worm farm at the Pinjarra refinery processed 137,734 kg of kitchen waste in 2005. The amount of material going to the worm farm instead of landfill has doubled since 2000.
Water reduction
We are actively working to reduce water consumption and increase the use of lower quality water instead of potable water in our operations.
Alcoa’s three operations in the Barwon Water region in Victoria have spent $1million dollars on water conservation in the past two years, reduced their domestic water consumption water by 60% since 1990 and are targeting a further 70% reduction by 2010.
Working with Barwon Water, Greening Australia and the Geelong Manufacturing Council, Alcoa recently launched a new water strategy which will help achieve a 70% reduction in domestic process water consumption by 2010 and zero discharge of waste water (including storm water) by 2015.
The Western Australian mining operations reduced their potable water consumption by 42% in 2005.
Water conservation was a priority in the design of the new McCoy crushing facility at the Huntly mine in Western Australia. Commissioned in January 2005, it has been designed to maximise harvesting and recycling of water. Surfaces such as car parks, light vehicle roads and roofs drain into two sumps which capture rain water along with treated wastewater from workshops, fuel bays and vehicle washing facilities.
These sumps pump water into the McCoy reservoir.
In 2005, 207 megalitres of water was harvested and recycled, accounting for nearly 50% of the total water consumption of Huntly Mine.
Around 56% of the water used in the refineries is lower quality water, drawn from a variety of sources including the Pinjarra sewage plant and the Harvey Main Drain.
Click here to download Alcoa's water strategy for the Barwon region
Residue management
Bauxite residue storage is a sustainability issue for alumina producers across the globe.
In Western Australia, Alcoa’s global research and development group has designed a process known as 'carbon capture' whereby bauxite residue is treated with waste CO2.
The process neutralises the alkalinity of the residue, lowering the environmental risks associated with long-term storage and opening the door for future re-use of residue.
At the same time, the process locks up the CO2 that would have otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere, delivering major greenhouse benefits.
At full capacity, the Kwinana carbon capture plant will lock up 70,000 tonnes of CO2 each year - equivalent to taking over 12,000 cars off the road.
Deployment across Alcoa's operations in Australia could save 300,000 tonnes of CO2 each year - equivalent to taking 75,000 cars off the road.
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Environmental Improvement Plans
Alcoa has a long track record of sharing information with local communities in a transparent and consultative manner through Community Consultative Networks.
This includes working with these groups and other community and government representatives to develop Environmental Improvement Plans.
During 2005, our Western Australian and Yennora operations worked with community representatives to develop their first Environmental Improvement Plans, building on our Victorian operations’ experience of producing such plans.
While EIPs are not required in Western Australian and NSW, they are part of licensing requirements for the smelters and are also voluntarily prepared by Anglesea power station.
Our Western Australian EIPs are the first such reports to be developed by industry in Western Australian and were welcomed by the Western Australian Government as setting a benchmark for Western Australian industry.
The EIPs set out targets and action plans for the full spectrum of environmental issues including air quality, water conservation, waste management, noise, energy efficiency, land management and rehabilitation. They can be downloaded here .
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Video: Alcoa's Worm Farm
Segment from Channel 9's Garden Gurus TV program
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Video: 'Make an Impact'
Alcoa's employee greenhouse footprint reduction program
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Video: 'Make an Impact'
Hear from our employees
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Video: 'River Recovery'
Alcoa & Greening Australia in partnership
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