Environment
Worsley Alumina's mining operations are located near Boddington in jarrah forest and agricultural land south east of Perth in Western Australia. The Worsley refinery, which processes the bauxite into alumina, is 15km north west of Collie.
At both the mine and the refinery sites, Worsley's key environmental responsibilities are to:
- Rehabilitate mined land and to re-establish a self sustaining, native forest ecosystem.
- Ensure the quality of local water resources are maintained.
- Ensure nearby residents are not adversely affected by air emissions from operations.
- Reuse, recycle and reduce the generation of waste were practicable.
Worsley's environmental commitment is backed by a research effort that covers a range of projects undertaken in partnership with universities, consultants and contractors.
Waste Management
In 1999 Worsley Alumina began a strategy to reduce the amount of waste generated, and to reduce the amount going into landfill.
The strategy aimed to:
- Reduce solid waste going into landfill by 60 per cent.
- Salvage all recyclable materials.
Both targets have been achieved or exceeded. The re-use of materials and reduction in landfill is saving Worsley more than $300,000 a year.
Further improvements in waste minimisation and recycling will be achieved through:
- Laundering and re-use of gloves.
- Recycling used timber.
- Reduced packaging materials for equipment and supplies.
- Re-use of pallets.
- Re-sue of conveyor belts.
- Recycling of heater tubes.
- Review of scrap metal program.
- Employee awareness and education.
Cost savings achieved by recycling initiatives have a direct community benefit through the Ruggies Minerals Industry Recycling Scheme. Worsley donates 30 per cent of all returns to the scheme which benefits Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth and the Royal Flying Doctors Service.
