Latest NPI emission data - 2009-2010

The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) is a publicly accessible database with information on the types and amounts of pollutants emitted to the Australian environment. It is compiled in partnership with state and territory governments.

It includes data on 93 substances from over 4200 industry and non-industry sources.

The data for 2009-2010 has been added and now provides information on emissions and transfers from over 4200 facilities. This is the 12th year that the NPI data is being made available.

NPI data comes from both industry and non-industry sources. Industry facilities estimate their emissions and transfers annually using a variety of techniques and report to the states and territories.

Non-industry (or diffuse) sources come from non-reporting facilities and everyday household activities, including motor vehicle emissions, wood heaters and lawn mowers.

Search the NPI database for emissions and transfers for 2009-2010.

Highlights of the 2009-2010 data

52 of the NPI substances emitted by reporting facilities showed a decrease compared to the previous year
Emissions for particulate matter have remained consistent over the last several reporting periods
National emissions of lead and its compounds continue to decrease
Long term trends show that emissions of common air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide and total volatile organic compounds are steady or decreasing slowly

Using the NPI emission data

It is misleading to add together emissions of different substances as this does not provide a measure of total pollution. This is because NPI substances have different properties and toxicities. A small emission of a highly toxic substance may be more significant than a large emission of a far less toxic material.

Please read the disclaimer for more information about using NPI data.

Using the NPI transfer data

When using the transfers information from the NPI, it is important to remember that a transfer is a contained movement of an NPI substance in a waste stream and is not a discharge or an emission to the environment.

Transfers data has been included in the NPI for several reasons including:

to provide industry with information to assist them in facilitating waste minimisation and increasing cleaner production activities;
to provide an opportunity for industry to showcase where they have made changes to their processes to reduce waste by increasing treatment, recycling and purification; and
to provide information on where substances, which may pose an environmental or health risk, are being generated and the manner in which they are managed.

Transfers and emissions are separate processes and therefore should be treated separately. It is not appropriate to add emissions and transfers of a substance to obtain an overall picture of a facilities environmental performance.

More information?

State and territory NPI contacts
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities - Public Affairs (02) 6274 2894
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities - NPI Unit 1800 657 945

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Norske Skog Paper Mill. Credit: Michael Lindquist

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