Environmental Awareness and Action in Australia

Australia typically holds their federal elections in March and this one was expected to focus on environmental initiatives.  The Opposition was set to announce a promise to reign in mining and carbon taxes, adding fuel to the fire of what governing party would win and what their commitment to environmental action would look like.  However, Prime Minister Julia Gillard shocked many when she announced that the election would take place in September, sparking the longest election campaign in Australian history. 

Given that the environment is set to become a hot topic in Australia throughout the summer and this campaign, it begs the question: What is Australia doing in terms of environmental action?  What is their environmental stance on international agreements?  Have they met or are they working towards meeting these accords?  How proactive is Australia in affirming a commitment to environmental action? In this article, we explore Australia to discover how the nation from Down Under is working towards a better world.

Air

Australia has been monitoring chemical emissions being released into the air since July 1998. The National Pollutant Inventory was established to track 90 different chemicals, most of which are considered air toxins. From this list and monitoring, the Ambient Air Quality National Environment Protection Measure has calculated emissions of these chemicals and has set out a plan to lower such toxins in the air, such as carbon monoxide and photochemicals, and to eliminate some altogether, such as lead and sulphur dioxide. This is detailed within a ten year plan.

Climate Change

Australia has a three pillar approach to climate change: mitigation, adaptation, and a global solution. 

Mitigation refers to reducing emissions. The belief is that without any action, carbon related pollution could be as high as 20% higher than 2000 level by 2020. The goal of the government is to lower emissions by at least 5% compared to the 2000 level, which will require cutting net expected pollution but roughly 25% by 2020. This includes investments into clean energy alternatives and supporting individuals and businesses in their unique efforts.  More than $5 billion has been invested into clean energy technologies as defined in the Clean Energy Legislative Package. The government has also established the Australian Carbon Trust, a $100 million fund designed to finance businesses in retrofitting commercial and industries sectors to more energy efficient options.  The creation of education for green-collar job training will also help train people in a variety of industries with the skills necessary to facilitate such a green business revolution. 

Adaption is an educational initiative designed to help people cope with a changing Australia. A $126 million fund in the Climate Change Adaptation Program help educate individuals on managing climate change risks including water conservation, health and emergencies management, and in helping to transition industries that use a lot of resources, such as farming and mining to better alternatives.

               

Global solutions are underway as Australia is an active partner under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The goal is to create a legally binding framework for all nations that manages pollution reduction and enforcement.  Australia is also the current chair of the Umbrella Group, a coalition of non-European Union developed nations who are working towards climate change solutions. Under the Kyoto Protocol, Australia has also publically pledged to reduce their emissions by 25% lower than 2000 standards, a plans that has affected the creation of the domestic Clean Energy Legislative Package.

Energy

               

The Australian plan to increase clean energy initiatives is very unique and involves all of their citizens. 

First, within the Clean Energy Legislative Package, all Australians who make under $80,000 per year will receive tax rebates based on the government’s new carbon pricing strategy. There is an expected 0.7% increase in the cost of living as commodities that increase carbon production are taxed at higher level. The rebate in meant to offset consumer costs. This also includes the rollout of a nationwide education initiative so that everyone understands how carbon pricing works, what commodities it is attached to, and what appropriate rates should be. 

There have also been two local projects, one in Tweed and the other in Moreton Bay, to test different energy alternatives. 

Since 2009, Tweed has worked to reduce organic wastes ending up in landfills. They have been able to reduce waste production by 42% and instead, have used organic wastes in a new methane gas extraction system, which is capable of generating 3,000 megawatt hours of electricity. The capture and burning of methane also reduces 12,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Moreton Bay is tackling their landfill as well. Since 2006, the introduction of curbside recycling has removed 25% of all waste from entering landfills.  The city also has other recycling initiatives, which brings the total waste removal to 42%. The installation of landfill gas management systems also further reduces landfill gas emission by 50%. Under the new carbon pricing strategy, the city believes that they will save $3.2 million through lower carbon production. These are two strategies that are being investigated for potential national rollouts.

Protection

               

It has been 14 years since the Biodiversity Conservation Act was enacted in 1999. This piece of legislation has served as the cornerstone for all Australian environmental legislation that has since followed. The goal is to preserve and protect flora, fauna, and ecological heritage sites from damage and pollution. Australia is a nation of large wilderness of many diverse landscapes. In working with the states and territories, their legacy can be preserved in their original states, untouched by humans, as a living monument to the natural world as well as helping as natural carbon captures.

Sustainability

               

Environmental sustainability is an important issue as urban communities continue to grow. A $2 billion plan is meant to ensure biodiversity of Australia’s natural environment while bringing forth sustainable agricultural practices. There are 56 regional natural resource management groups that are working in conjunction with the government to protect untouched areas of the country, minimize damage to animal habits, and to ensure that natural carbon capture within forested areas are not cut down so as not to increase emissions.

Pollution and Waste Management

               

The National Waste Policy outlines the nation’s waste management and recycling programs, currently dated to include implementations until 2020. Between 2002 and 2007, Australia has noticed a 31% increase in waste generation. Much of this increase is in technologically outdated commercial goods, which may contain metals and chemicals that are harmful to the environment, in addition to taking up space in landfills. The aims of this policy are meant to serve 4 goals: reducing waste generation, re-imagining waste as a resource, safe disposal, and the reduction of contaminants entering the environment from landfill sites. Part of the mandate of this proposal also includes an adherence to monitoring and accurate data collection.

Water

               

The National Water Commission was created from the National Water Commission Act in 2004 and further amended last year. This gives them the authority to manage Australia’s water systems through the Water Act of 2007. They also work in conjunction with regional, state, territorial, and local authorities in water management and conservation practices.  Current major projects include the Murray-Darling Basin audit. The Commission acts as an independent reviewer in such audits in order to find areas where increased water resource management can benefit.

What the Future for Australia Holds

               

Australia is one of the more progressive developed nations that is working towards an environmental strategy that balances environmental action with sustainability. This is a difficult thing to manage and the upcoming election shows exactly that. People have many different ideas of what a sound environmental strategy is. So far, Australians have benefitted from a government that has looked for national solutions as well as has contributed to global organizations in a leadership role. Let’s hope that Australia continues to be an example for the rest of the developed world and show that environmental action can work with sustainability!

Sources: Atmosphere AU, NWC.gov.au, Environment AU, Sustainability AU, Climate Change AU, Clean Energy Future, Environment AU, Australia.gov.au, Benefits of Recycling, The Age, Australia.com, Social Studies, Marine Science Today, Desert Animals, Desalination AU, Environment ABC, Public Works Green Energy Award, NCCARF, Tony Charters, Beautiful Australia

The Life, Death, and Resurrection of a Battery

In 2010, Canadians purchased 22,843 tonnes of batteries. Less than a third of those were rechargeable, and many ended up in landfills. We all use rechargeable batteries in our cell phones and laptops, in our calculators and our cars, but many of us still buy single-use batteries for portable devices like flash lights,  remote controls, and toys. About 88% of the total mercury and 50% of the cadmium found in municipal waste comes from batteries.

Recycling your batteries can help reduce mining of materials for battery production, as can buying rechargeable batteries. Furthermore, buying rechargeable batteries can also save you a lot of money. A pair of rechargeable AA batteries costs about four times as much as a two single-use AA batteries, but you can use your rechargeable batteries hundreds of times!

What is a battery?

  

Simply put, a battery is a portable source of energy that produces electricity by chemical reaction. The amount of electricity a battery produces varies widely depending on the type and amount of materials used to construct the battery.

How does it work?

A battery is made up of one or more “cells” which comprise two different metals (electrodes) connected by wire on one end, and in contact with an electrolyte solution on the other. One electrode has an excess of electrons (a negative charge) and one has a deficit of electrons (a positive charge). The chemical reaction between the metals and the solution causes electrons to travel from the negative terminal to the positive terminal, producing electricity.

 

Common Batteries

A battery will either be wet-cell, where the electrolyte solution is liquid (as in a car battery), or dry-cell, where the electrolyte solution is a paste. Batteries fall into several sub-groups, based on chemical composition.  The performance and life of the battery will vary by manufacturer, but batteries with the same basic chemical composition share many characteristics.

Lead-acid batteries are your traditional car batteries. They are also used in other applications where weight and size are relatively unimportant, like emergency lighting systems and wheelchairs. Lead-acid batteries actually have a liquid electrolyte solution, so are heavy and must be treated carefully.

Alkaline batteries are most commonly found in the traditional sizes of AA, AAA, C, D, etc. These batteries come in both disposable and rechargeable forms, the disposable kind being the cheapest. The rechargeable version tends to have a low-discharge rate (producing less power at a time) so is best used in low-energy devices like clocks.

Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries are also available is traditional sizes (AA, C, D). They are rechargeable and have a high-discharge rate, so are good for use in electronic devices like digital cameras. They are now used in hybrid cars instead of lead-acid batteries because of their lighter weight and smaller size.

Lithium-ion batteries are mostly used in cell phones, laptop, and notebook computers. They are lightweight and rechargeable, but can also be fragile. Lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) batteries are pretty much the same, but can be packaged in a wider variety of sizes and shapes.

Nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries have a long shelf life and a high discharge rate, but low energy density. They are often used in 2-way radios, power tools, and professional cameras. These batteries are, however, quite toxic and must be disposed of properly. NiMH batteries are largely replacing NiCad batteries in consumer products.

Button batteries are small, disposable batteries most commonly made using zinc or lithium. You’ll find them in wristwatches, calculators, and other small electronic devices.

Recharging

Recharging reverses the chemical reaction in the battery, allowing the electricity-producing reaction to happen over and over again. The battery can keep producing electricity until it eventually wears out.

A rechargeable battery has a limited number of charge cycles. It is not an exact number, but the following table can give you a rough guideline of what to expect from different types of batteries:

*These are average numbers and may vary depending on manufacturers, as well as the use the battery will undergo.

From the purchase of a battery to its eventual expiration, the life of the battery and amount of use you get can vary widely depending on the type of battery, storage, and usage. How you use your batteries can either extend or diminish the life of the battery.

To get the most out of your batteries, follow a few easy steps:

• Use the right type of battery for the device.
• Turn off devices when they aren’t being used.
• For items that are used infrequently, remove batteries between uses.
• For rechargeable batteries, don’t leave them on the charger once they’ve been fully charged; they lose a percentage of their capacity if left on the charger too long.
• Store unused batteries at or below room temperature.

Recycling

Depending on the composition of the battery, the recycling process varies. Other batteries are too small and delicate for such recycling, so batteries like Lithium-ion are shredded and turned into other products, like industrial lubricants. Other batteries are not as valuable to reclaim, but still have components that are worth salvaging, and remaking either into new batteries, or into other products.

The Recycling Process

First, the batteries are sorted by chemistry. Each type of battery requires a different process to separate and reconstitute the individual components.

In the case of lead-acid batteries acid solution, the plastic, lead and other components are all separated. The lead is melted, purified, and remolded for use in new batteries. The acid solution is neutralized, filtered, and reconstituted to use in new battery cells. The plastic is also refurbished and made into new battery casings.

Lead-acid batteries have been consistently recycled for decades, thanks to the organization of the auto industry in reclaiming used batteries. Between 98% and 99% of lead-acid car batteries are recycled and remade into new batteries.

For other battery types, the components are also separated, and in some cases remade into new batteries, but can also be made into other products. Lithium batteries, for example, are frozen with nitrogen to neutralize the lithium, before the batteries are crushed and shredded. The lithium is then separated and rendered non-reactive before being sold to produce lubricating greases. The cobalt in the battery is also separated and sold for reuse.

Where can I recycle my batteries?

Many retailers will accept batteries for recycling that have been purchased in-house, and more and more retailers and depots now take batteries for recycling.

To find out how and where to recycle your batteries, check out:

http://rcbc.bc.ca/education/retailer-take-back 

www.regionalrecycling.ca

In Canada, the annual recycling rate of batteries (other than car batteries) was less than 20% as of 2009. The good news is that Canada has the infrastructure to process and recycle all of the batteries that Canadians use each year.

Sources: ODEC, Technology & Science, EZE Living, Life of Earth, Tonolli, The Money Track, Raw Materials, ec.gc.ca, Eco Evaluator, Inventors, E How, Battery University, Buy Chargeall, HRSDC, Recupyl, Earth 911