Performance
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Performance
Our sustainability performance is measured against international standards and initiatives.
Waste, contamination and other emissions
Our approach
Poorly managed waste can lead to contamination problems which can adversely impact communities and the environment. Our internal standard outlines the requirements that operations use a waste register to improve the way they identify, assess, quantify and report risks and opportunities associated with all their waste streams to:
- Implement effective procedures and controls intended to handle, segregate, store, transport and dispose of their waste;
- Maintain a record of all waste that is moved off-site for disposal in line with local laws and internal requirements; and
- Implement risk-based governance processes intended to verify the treatment, handling and disposal adheres to local laws and internal requirements.
All operations are required to complete a self-assessment against the requirements of the internal environment and climate change standard and complete agreed action plans to close any identified gaps.
The nature of mining and processing activities, if not appropriately managed, may lead to potential contamination through discharges and runoff, heavy metal contamination, spills, leaks or leaching of chemical elements.
Our approach to contamination prediction and management focuses on early identification, detailed analysis of potential risk exposure, and implementation of fit for purpose controls.
We apply a risk-based approach to manage contamination, employing the Source-Pathway-Receptor (SPR) assessment method to identify actual or potential contamination risks, and implement controls to minimise adverse environmental impacts, maintain compliance, prevent impacts to human health and reduce long-term costs and closure liabilities.
Our stewardship program is designed to provide: second-line assurance over conformance with our internal environment and climate change standard, risk reviews and an assessment of the effectiveness of controls designed to manage contamination risks.
All of our operations are required to maintain an updated contamination register.
Air emissions are the non-greenhouse gas air emissions associated with our activities, which include gaseous air emissions such as sulphur oxides (Sox), nitrogen oxides (Nox) and fluoride, and particulate matter, also known as PM, such as dust.
We apply national and global standards for assessing ambient air quality. Air quality monitoring programs at our operations include real-time monitoring and compliance monitoring capabilities.
Our operations implement a hierarchy of controls to mitigate air emissions risk, minimise impacts and support compliance with internal and regulatory requirements.
We endeavour to engage local communities to inform our approach to air emissions management and understand whether controls are being effectively applied.
