C253 - Ravensdown Fertiliser Co-op Ltd,
Christchurch - Canterbury Region
Summary
The gradual implementation of cleaner production ideas and approaches within
Ravensdown, coupled with the establishment of an ISO 14001 environmental
management system, puts the company in a powerful position to successfully
integrate the cleaner production philosophy and approach into the core of
the company culture and systems.
Business Profile
The Ravensdown Fertisliser Co-op site at Hornby in Christchurch is one of 3
in the Ravensdown group manufacturing phosphate fertilisers for New Zealand’s
agricultural industry.
Type of Projects
Reduced utility and chemical use
Reasons for Projects
The cleaner production approach was introduced to the Hornby
site in parallel with a programme to establish the ISO14001 environmental
management system (EMS). As a result of this parallel implementation
process, Ravensdown have recognised the close synergy between
cleaner production and the formal EMS and are now integrating
the CP principles, practices and objectives into the ISO 14001
system.
Target Zero
Ravensdown Fertiliser has been a participant in Target Zero,
a two-year sponsored cleaner production programme involving 12
companies in Christchurch and 10 in Hawkes Bay during the period
1997-1999. The programme was sponsored by the Sustainable Management
Fund of the Ministry for the Environment, Meridian Energy Ltd
(formerly ECNZ), and the local authority and electricity company
in each area.
The Projects
Lighting Control
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Description
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There are 770 lights around the Ravensdown site with current
operating costs of around $52,000 per annum. There is considerable
opportunity to improve their efficiency and a target has
been set to reduce their operating costs by $10,000.
An example of the measures being introduced is the installation
of a time-clock to control some of the road lighting. The
road lighting at the side of the sulphur store tends to
be left on continuously because staff forget to turn them
off during the day (since electricity is generated on site,
the plant culture has traditionally been to regard electricity
as a free good). The six 160 watt spotlights between them
currently cost $645/ year to operate.
By installing a mechanical clock set for 9 hours of night
time operation, the operating cost for these 6 lights was
reduced by 62.5%.
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Environmental Benefit
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Reduced electricity consumption and increased bulb life.
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Economic Benefit |
Capital cost $279
Savings $403/annum
Payback 9 months |
Minimising Waste Lithium Grease
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Description
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Lithium complex grease is supplied in 55kg drums. The
suction pump as currently used leaves around 12.3 kg of
grease in the bottom of each drum, with the result that
less than 80% of the purchased grease can be used. In addition,
because of the grease left in the drum, the company has
not been able to claim the $26.098 refundable deposit per
drum, and has been stockpiling them.
To reduce wastage and facilitate drum recycling, the site
engineers fashioned a 10mmm thick metal plate addition
to the pump. The extra weight creates a greater suction
and as a result, the grease remaining in the drum has been
reduced from 12.3 kg to 2.85 kg ie grease waste has been
reduced from 22% to 4.5 %. The drum can also be returned
and the deposit refunded.
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Environmental Benefit
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Drums can be recycled.
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Economic Benefit |
Capital cost $65
Savings $1,180/annum
Payback 3 weeks |
Recycling acid plant waste water
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Description
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Existing practice had resulted in treated acid plant cooling
waters being discharged to the ground in violation of a
general authorisation from the regional council. In addition
bore water used in the acid-plant plate heat exchangers
was stored in an open pond that developed algae and required
chemical treatment before use.
By storing the acid plant waste waters in what were previously
the bore water ponds, and installing four new enclosed
bore store water tanks meant that:
- The stored acid wastewater could be reused
as make-up water for scrubber, reducing the need to use
fresh bore water.
- Eliminating sunlight form the storage
tanks significantly reduced the need for water treatment
chemicals to treat algae.
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Environmental Benefit
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Eliminated undesirable discharge and reduced bore water
consumption and chemical use.
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Economic Benefit |
Capital cost $185,000
Savings $11,400/annum
Payback Several years |
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For additional information contact:
Paul Barrett
Ravendown Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd
PO Box 16 081
Christchurch
Phone 03 349 6189
Fax 03 349 9174
psb@ravensdown.co.nz |
For further information about the Target Zero programme
see following publication:
- You too can profit from cleaner production and waste
minimisation
- Coordinating cleaner production programmes. Lessons
from Target Zero
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