Industry sectors

Every year Australian industrial facilities that use above specified amounts of the 93 NPI substances must estimate and report their emissions to their state or territory environment agency. These agencies review all NPI data for accuracy and forward the data to the Australian Government for publication on the NPI web site.

Since reporting started in 1999, the number of facilities reporting has trebled.

Facilities are grouped into industry sectors using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) codes. This helps facilities to compare their results against other facilities in the same ANZSIC code, and for the community to track emissions from different industries.

The information below provides a snapshot of different industry sectors that make products and provide services that are used by the Australian community. You can obtain this information from the new NPI data available on the NPI web site.

Beverage manufacturing

A total of 202 facilities in the beverage manufacturing sector reported to the NPI in the 2007-08 reporting year.
The activities covered by this sector include the manufacture of soft drink, cordial and syrup, beer, wine and spirits.
A total of 41 substances was reported: the major ones were carbon monoxide, ethanol, oxides of nitrogen, total volatile organic compounds and ammonia. Several new substances also were reported including PM2.5, which was collected by the NPI for the first time during the 2007-08 reporting year.
Compared with the previous reporting year, the major emissions reported for the sector increased.
This sector reports emissions to air, land and water.

Emissions from beverage manufacturing

Motor vehicle and motor vehicle part manufacturing

A total of 30 facilities in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle part manufacturing sector reported to the NPI in the 2007-08 reporting year.
The sector includes the major motor vehicle manufacturers and the components industry,
A total of 50 substances was reported: the major ones were total volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, xylenes and toluene.
Compared with the 2006-07 reporting year, the major emissions for the sector were similar.
The sector reports to air, land and water.

Emissions from motor vehicle and motor vehicle part manufacturing

Petroleum refining

A total of 11 facilities in the petroleum refining sector reported on 47 substances in the 2007-08 reporting year.
The petroleum refining activities covered by this sector include oil refining, storage, handling and wastewater treatment.
This sector is a major emitter of n-Hexane, ethylbenzene, biphenyl and cumene (1-methyethylbenzene).
In the past year, this sector reported decreased emissions in benzene, n-hexane, toluene and total volatile organic compounds.
Reported emissions for sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen increased compared with the previous reporting year.
This sector reports emissions to air, land and water.

Emissions from petroleum refining

Pulp, paper and paperboard manufacturing

A total of 23 facilities in the pulp, paper and paperboard manufacturing sector reported to the NPI in the 2007-08 reporting year.
This sector includes the manufacture of paper, cardboards and containers.
A total of 51 substances was reported: the major ones were total volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide.
Compared with the 2006-07 reporting year, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and total volatile organic compounds decreased.
The reported emissions of particulate matter (PM10), Total Nitrogen, hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid increased.
The sector reports to all destinations - air, land and water

Emissions from pulp,paper and paperboard manufacturing

Why do emission levels vary?

Emissions levels of a particular substance may vary because the number of facilities reporting their emissions may vary, or there are changes in factory levels of production, improved environmental performance, changes to the process, installation of pollution control equipment such as fabric filters, and updated estimation techniques.

What are emission reduction activities?

One of the main goals of the NPI is to encourage facilities to reduce substance emissions and decrease waste. Reporting facilities have the option of reporting on cleaner production activities and pollution control developments that they have undertaken during the reporting year. Since NPI reporting started, 1836 facilities have provided information on their emission reduction activities.

The most common reduction techniques are: improving maintenance scheduling, record-keeping or procedures; and implementing inspection or monitoring programs for potential spill or leak sources. The most common types of pollution control equipment reported are wastewater treatment, wet scrubbers and fabric filters.
For more information about changes in reported emissions and emission reduction activities go to:

What industry is doing

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DairyTas Effluent Management Project. Credit: Michelle MAulay.

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