Air Quality Case Study

Improving air quality brings added benefits

The large number of trucks passing through the Port Kembla Steelworks each day presents a challenge in managing emissions and road stains caused by dust caught on the vehicle wheels.

Following a successful trial, the installation of a wheel bath has improved air quality by removing dust from the wheels of vehicles leaving the Raw Materials Handling area.  In addition, iron ore collected from the wheel bath is being recycled back into the Raw Materials sinter beds.  Regular monitoring and auditing during the 11 week trial recorded 5000 trucks passing through the wheel bath, and approximately 18 tonnes of iron ore that would have otherwise have been dragged onto roads was recycled.

A similar wheel bath installed at the Lime Kiln operations, where trucks travel directly from areas of unsealed stockpile onto sealed roads, has also reduced dust emissions and contributed to a monthly cost saving of approximately $10,000 that was previously spent on road sweepers.  In addition, around 20 tonnes of material was collected from the wheel wash and recycled in the first three months of operation.