Air Quality - Case Studies

Clearing the air at North Star BlueScope Steel

The Company’s North Star BlueScope Steel plant in the United States began spring-cleaning early, with the installation of a second baghouse in December to collect dust from the steelmaking process.

North Star BlueScope Steel is a joint venture, which operates an electric arc furnace steelmaking plant at Delta, Ohio.  Electric arc furnaces use electricity to melt scrap steel in order to manufacture hot rolled coil.

The plant was originally designed to produce 1.5 million tons of steel per year. Over time production has progressively increased and the plant now makes more than 2 million tons per annum.

With the increased production comes an increase of dust from the steelmaking process.  To collect this dust and maintain the strict air quality limits set by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the plant is equipped with a baghouse.

The baghouse sucks fumes and air from the steelmaking plant, and then filters the air, capturing any dust, before discharging the air back into the atmosphere.

With the growth in steel production, the baghouse capacity had become a limiting factor on operations. A decision was made to add a second baghouse at a cost of around $US30 million.

BlueScope Steel Marks World Environment Day

World Environment Day in June marked two environment improvement programs at BlueScope Steel.

BlueScope Steel employees were recognised for their efforts that would often go unnoticed.

Vice President Technology and Environment, Alan Thomas, presented nominated participants with World Environment Day Award certificates and the winners, the Air Quality Team from Laboratory Services, with a BlueScope Water tank system.

The Air Quality Team's winning entry showcased an innovative approach to offsetting CO₂ emissions from work vans through tree plantings, using recycled water to maintain the trees.

CreekWATCH, a program to reduce pollution in local waterways launched by the Company’s Acacia Ridge site in Brisbane also received recognition on World Environment Day.

Martina Glenn, Occupational Health Safety & Environment Coordinator for Logistics at Acacia Ridge, and the BlueScope Steel representative on CreekWATCH, explained: “About 12 months ago we started seeing unnatural substances appearing in local waterways that pass near our site in Acacia Ridge.

The initiative has led to establishing a formal partnership with the Brisbane City Council, the local Creek Catchment Association, BlueScope Steel and other local industries in the area. 

The CreekWATCH group’s key aim is to ensure pollution is prevented, to proactively rehabilitate the creek for aquatic life and to open up the waterways for people who live and work in the area.

As part of the local celebrations, approximately 150 children from schools throughout the region attended the Wollongong Botanical Gardens. Here, they were introduced to water saving schemes, BlueScope Steel’s Tank A Day Challenge and other key environmental topics.

As part of the local celebrations, approximately 150 children from schools throughout the region attended the Wollongong Botanical Gardens. Here, they were introduced to water saving schemes, BlueScope Steel’s Tank A Day Challenge and other key environmental topics.