CSBP’s expansion of its nutrient-stripping wetland at the company’s Kwinana industrial complex has been selected as a finalist in both the Corporate Business Leading by Example and Resource and Waste Management categories of this year’s awards.

The $2.1 million project, completed in June, included the construction of two additional wetland cells to complement an existing pilot wetland cell built on the site in 2004.

Each of the two new cells is approximately 8,000 square metres and can hold and process approximately 2,000 cubic metres of wastewater per batch.

CSBP Managing Director Ian Hansen said that the wetland was an important part of CSBP’s approach to sustainable wastewater management on site, and a demonstration of the company’s commitment to continually improving environmental performance.

“For more than a decade, CSBP has worked to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous in industrial wastewater discharge generated from our manufacturing operations at Kwinana,” Mr Hansen said.

“The expanded wetland will further reduce the level of nitrogen in site wastewater prior to discharge to the Sepia Depression Ocean Outlet Landline, the licensed outfall that extends four kilometres offshore from Point Peron.”

CSBP engaged Murdoch University’s Environmental Technology Centre in 2006 to analyse the performance of the pilot wetland and assist CSBP in optimising the wetland’s performance. The additional cells were constructed as a result of the Centre’s analysis and advice.

The Centre also recommended the addition of an organic carbon source to the original pilot cell to enhance the removal of nitrogen from wastewater prior to discharge. Trials will commence during the coming year.

CSBP Limited is a division of Wesfarmers Limited and is a major manufacturer and supplier of chemicals, fertilisers and related services to the mining, agricultural and industrial sectors.