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| Wetlands |
Since 1995, Bridgestone has spent over
$4.6 million on environmental improvements to its Salisbury manufacturing
plant, the only Bridgestone tyre plant in Australia.
Business activities can be harmful to the environment; however,
Bridgestone, which is licensed by the EPA, is minimising harm
and reducing its effects by adopting effective systems for environmental
management.
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Fume exhaust
stack
with deodoriser sprays |
In co-operation with the EPA, Bridgestone
developed an environmental management system (EMS) to ensure that
the business meets its legal obligations under the Environment
Protection Act. The EMS also ensures that Bridgestone continuously
improves its environmental performance.
Environmental improvements
Bridgestone has earned international recognition for its commitment
to the environment, receiving the ISO (International Standards
Organisation) 14001 Environmental Management Systems certificate.
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| Noise wall |
Environmental improvements Bridgestone has made to its plant
include:
- installation of wetlands to purify all stormwater run-off
from plant
- installation of new bunded process oil tankfarm
- installation of noise reduction equipment, including a noise
wall and exhaust stack mufflers
- redirection of dust filter exhausts away from residential
areas
- installation of deodoriser spray units in exhaust stacks to
remove rubber smells
- regular monitoring and control of all cooling towers for Legionella
- development of tyres with 15% lower rolling resistance to
help cut petrol consumption
- installation of boiler water heat reclamation system
- recycling and reduction of waste
- sewer monitoring station.
Wetlands project
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Students
digging
along waters edge |
In 1998, Bridgestone developed on-site wetlands to purify all
stormwater run-off from its plant and protect Barker Inlet. All
stormwater from the site now flows to an on-site lake and through
trash racks before entering the wetlands. The lake serves as a
detention pond and as a source of drinking water for a number
of native animals in the sanctuary at the back of the site, including
kangaroos, turtles, possums and birdlife.
The wetlands and sanctuary have received strong support from
the community. The Brahma Lodge Primary School has used the wetlands
during its involvement in the EPA Waterwatch program. The local
school has also participated in a tree planting day at the wetlands
site.
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| Bunded process
oil Tankfarm |
Tank farm project
In response to a spill in 1997, Bridgestone removed all underground
tanks and installed a contained process-oil tank farm in 1998
to prevent possible leakage into the stormwater and underground
water system.
Environmental features of the tank farm:
- A fully bunded area, not built over underground services,
is able to hold the contents of the largest oil tank plus 200
mm of rain.
- Fill pipes are located inside the bunded area.
- An isolation valve for bunded areas electronically locks fill
points.
- All combustible tanks are located in one bund.
- Kero baths/greases are in a bunded area.
- Any water collected from the bunds goes through a controlled
release process to an oil/sediment separator.
- A tanker catchment area.
- All oil pipes are above ground.
- Catchment trays have been placed around pumps.
- Spill kits are located nearby for effective spill management.
- Tanks are 0.7 m above floor level to easily identify leaks.
- A garden area has been established around the open layout
tank farm.
- A 205-litre drum decanting station is provided.
- Wipe blocks are provided on 205-litre drum fill lines.
- All pumps are water level.
This page was last modified 21-04-2006
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