FOR EVERY BIODEGRADABLE FILTER USED, SLURRYTUB SAVES AN ESTIMATED
54 LITRES OF WATER.
FOR EVERY BIODEGRADABLE FILTER USED, SLURRYTUB SAVES AN ESTIMATED
54 LITRES OF WATER.
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES TO 25% – 40% OF THE WORLD’S CARBON EMISSIONS, CAUSING POLLUTION IN BOTH AIR AND WATER.
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES TO 25% – 40% OF THE WORLD’S CARBON EMISSIONS, CAUSING POLLUTION IN BOTH AIR AND WATER.
THE PROBLEM
The disposal of cement wastewater is a major issue that occurs on most construction sites around the world. This problem is created at the end of each day when any cement construction tools are washed. This is usually done after the bricklayers, tilers, cement renderers, or concreters have been on the job. When they wash their tools and equipment, the wastewater frequently ends up on the road and drains into gutters into the stormwater system, which flows into creeks and rivers and eventually into the ocean. These building materials contain heavy metals, hazardous substances, and other pollutants that permanently harm our fragile ecosystems, soil chemistry, and aquatic life.
ENFORCEMENT
CHALLENGES
While it is illegal for any substance other than rainwater to enter the stormwater system. The practicality is that the EPA and Councils have limited resources to enforce the guidelines and, as a result, too many builders and contractors take shortcuts to meet or get around the existing guidelines. This can vary from hosing down sites to dumping slurry directly into the stormwater systems to avoid surface detection.
THE PROBLEM
The disposal of cement wastewater is a major issue that occurs on most construction sites around the world. This problem is created at the end of each day when any cement construction tools are washed. This is usually done after the bricklayers, tilers, cement renderers, or concreters have been on the job. When they wash their tools and equipment, the wastewater frequently ends up on the road and drains into gutters into the stormwater system, which flows into creeks and rivers and eventually into the ocean. These building materials contain heavy metals, hazardous substances, and other pollutants that permanently harm our fragile ecosystems, soil chemistry, and aquatic life.
ENFORCEMENT
CHALLENGES
While it is illegal for any substance other than rainwater to enter the stormwater system. The practicality is that the EPA and Councils have limited resources to enforce the guidelines and, as a result, too many builders and contractors take shortcuts to meet or get around the existing guidelines. This can vary from hosing down sites to dumping slurry directly into the stormwater systems to avoid surface detection.
CURRENT INDUSTRY GUIDELINES
To assist the construction industry in protecting the environment, councils typically publish and enforce several 'best practice' guidelines detailing acceptable clean-up techniques. Most guidelines are out of date, have flaws, and/or are difficult to put into practice on many sites. Our experience with these guidelines in the construction industry over many years has shown that they are impractical and frequently ignored, particularly on smaller sites. We have seen many improvised washout areas, but we have also seen many sites where the guidelines have been completely disregarded.
CURRENT INDUSTRY GUIDELINES
To assist the construction industry in protecting the environment, councils typically publish and enforce several 'best practice' guidelines detailing acceptable clean-up techniques. Most guidelines are out of date, have flaws, and/or are difficult to put into practice on many sites. Our experience with these guidelines in the construction industry over many years has shown that they are impractical and frequently ignored, particularly on smaller sites. We have seen many improvised washout areas, but we have also seen many sites where the guidelines have been completely disregarded.
THE SOLUTION
SLURRYTUB is a portable filtering system that provides a simple and cost-effective environmental solution for the disposal of wet trade slurry. It is the market's only solution to a growing waste problem in the construction industry. Our 'best practice' solution was designed to significantly improve the environmental performance of construction sites by eliminating any suspended solids from entering the watercourse and saving and recycling water.
OUR
RECOMMENDATION
The SLURRYTUB solution is a vast improvement on current practices and makes it easier to meet all council guidelines. We recognise that regulators and councils cannot specifically endorse SLURRYTUB as a product, however, we are of the view that the current guidelines are outdated and should be revised. We recommend that the current guidelines be updated to incorporate the following:
-
All slurry should be retained in a waterproof vessel before hitting the ground
-
Any filtering of the slurry should occur before being placed in the vessel, or in the vessel itself, and not after it has hit the ground as this is too late
-
The separated slurry should be deposited in a skip or other appropriate waste disposal system
-
Any filtered water should be recycled on the job (creating a closed loop), or appropriately disposed of offsite, allowing nothing but rainwater to go down the stormwater
THE SOLUTION
SLURRYTUB is a portable filtering system that provides a simple and cost-effective environmental solution for the disposal of wet trade slurry. It is the market's only solution to a growing waste problem in the construction industry. Our 'best practice' solution was designed to significantly improve the environmental performance of construction sites by eliminating any suspended solids from entering the watercourse and saving and recycling water.
OUR
RECOMMENDATION
The SLURRYTUB solution is a vast improvement on current practices and makes it easier to meet all council guidelines. We recognise that regulators and councils cannot specifically endorse SLURRYTUB as a product, however, we are of the view that the current guidelines are outdated and should be revised. We recommend that the current guidelines be updated to incorporate the following:
-
All slurry should be retained in a waterproof vessel before hitting the ground
-
Any filtering of the slurry should occur before being placed in the vessel, or in the vessel itself, and not after it has hit the ground as this is too late
-
The separated slurry should be deposited in a skip or other appropriate waste disposal system
-
Any filtered water should be recycled on the job (creating a closed loop), or appropriately disposed of offsite, allowing nothing but rainwater to go down the stormwater
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
WATER SAVINGS
Using excessive amounts of water to hose harmful pollutants into client's garden or down the drain is not a solution. For every biodegradable filter used, SLURRYTUB saves an estimated 54 LITRES of water meaning SLURRYTUB has already saved 8.1 million litres. SLURRYTUB being used on all home renovations and new builds for a year, would save Australia 300 million liters of water! Estimate non inclusive of additional recycled water capabilities.
REDUCTION OF TSS
The filtered water which flows from SLURRYTUB is visibly clear and we have completed numerous laboratory tests of slurries before and after the SLURRYTUB filter process, with all of the samples showing Total Suspended Solids (TSS) of less than 50mg/l over time. Reduced contaminants to below Australian Drinking Water Guidelines other than for pH and chromium.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
WATER SAVINGS
Using excessive amounts of water to hose harmful pollutants into client's garden or down the drain is not a solution. For every biodegradable filter used, SLURRYTUB saves an estimated 54 LITRES of water meaning SLURRYTUB has already saved 8.1 million litres. SLURRYTUB being used on all home renovations and new builds for a year, would save Australia 300 million liters of water! Estimate non inclusive of additional recycled water capabilities.
REDUCTION OF TSS
The filtered water which flows from SLURRYTUB is visibly clear and we have completed numerous laboratory tests of slurries before and after the SLURRYTUB filter process, with all of the samples showing Total Suspended Solids (TSS) of less than 50mg/l over time. Reduced contaminants to below Australian Drinking Water Guidelines other than for pH and chromium.
INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHENTICATION
‘SLURRYTUB filters concrete slurry without introducing any harmful materials to the sediment, drained water and environment.’
SLURRYTUB has had it’s sustainability claim authenticated by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) following rigorous independent laboratory testing of the SLURRYTUB filtering process. This authentication provides consumers confidence that a specific sustainability claim has been substantiated through an in-depth exploration by independent third-party assurance. GECA’s rigorous certification standards follow ISO 14024 principles and ISEAL frameworks for global best practice, which are then independently assessed by their Assurance Providers.
ALIGNMENT WITH AUTHORITIES & REGULATORS (EPA)
We endorse the 'Get the Site Right' is a joint taskforce of local councils, catchment groups, NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Department of Planning and Environment DPE), which targets erosion and sediment control on commercial and residential building sites across NSW.
Results of the May 2023 ‘Get the Site Right’ inspection blitz campaign across 22 councils in Sydney and the Hunter Coast, where EPA NSW and Council Officers inspected 825 sites with 39% found to be non-compliant. A total of $376,789 worth of fines were issued to building sites that did not meet the standards. Offences ranged from significant sediment tracking off the site to concrete slurry washed into stormwater drains.
INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHENTICATION
‘SLURRYTUB filters concrete slurry without introducing any harmful materials to the sediment, drained water and environment.’
SLURRYTUB has had it’s sustainability claim authenticated by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) following rigorous independent laboratory testing of the SLURRYTUB filtering process. This authentication provides consumers confidence that a specific sustainability claim has been substantiated through an in-depth exploration by independent third-party assurance. GECA’s rigorous certification standards follow ISO 14024 principles and ISEAL frameworks for global best practice, which are then independently assessed by their Assurance Providers.
ALIGNMENT WITH AUTHORITIES & REGULATORS (EPA)
We endorse the 'Get the Site Right' is a joint taskforce of local councils, catchment groups, NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Department of Planning and Environment DPE), which targets erosion and sediment control on commercial and residential building sites across NSW.
Results of the May 2023 ‘Get the Site Right’ inspection blitz campaign across 22 councils in Sydney and the Hunter Coast, where EPA NSW and Council Officers inspected 825 sites with 39% found to be non-compliant. A total of $376,789 worth of fines were issued to building sites that did not meet the standards. Offences ranged from significant sediment tracking off the site to concrete slurry washed into stormwater drains.