Environment Improvement Programme approved

To ensure a continued focus on environmental improvements at the Adbri Birkenhead site, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) required Adbri to develop and implement an Environment Improvement Programme (EIP). An EIP is a regulatory tool under the Environment Protection Act 1993 that requires licensees to specify the actions that they will take to achieve compliance with the general environmental duty. EIPs must include a clear and demonstrable schedule of the improvements the licensee will implement.

In accordance with its EPA licence, Adbri was required to submit a revised EIP to the EPA’s satisfaction by 31 May 2024. Adbri’s EIP was submitted by this date, however, it was deemed unsatisfactory by the EPA. Based on this and a significant dust emission event from Adbri during May, the EPA issued an Environment Protection Order which required Adbri to submit a revised EIP with significantly tighter dust control commitments, by 31 October 2024.

In determining the actions committed to in its EIP, Adbri engaged a suitably qualified expert to undertake a detailed assessment of options to prevent or minimise emissions from its site. A number of recommended options were identified in this process, and consideration of the actions, timeframes and milestones of these options have been considered in the revised EIP.

The EPA also required that Adbri undertake public consultation with the community as a key part of developing its revised EIP.

Two additional community air quality monitoring stations were also established during September 2024 by the EPA (Naval Reserve, Birkenhead and Peter Nicholls Reserve, Peterhead) to better understand the nature of local dust impacts.

The EPA formally approved Adbri’s EIP on 15 November 2024 and a copy is available here.