THE operators of a used lead acid battery recycling plant at Bomen have given an assurance that plans to more than triple its operations will not jeopardise the environment or the health of people.
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Renewed Metal Technologies (RMT) has operated its recycling plant on Byrnes Road for four years.
It has signalled to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure it wants to spend $50 million to upgrade the plant to allow for an increase in production from 42,000 tonnes of used batteries a year to 150,000 tonnes.
The move has alarmed Bomen resident Ron Kerr, who has written to RMT expressing concerns about lead emissions and their impact on health.
RMT general manager Darren Nelson and Todd Vains, Australian managing director of parent company Enirgi Metal Group, yesterday said current emissions of lead and dioxins at Bomen were a fraction of government limits.
And they said emissions would not increase despite the increased production.
Mr Nelson said the company was required to have its Bomen emissions tested by an independent company and there had never been any breaches of standards.
"Modelling shows that RMT's highest lead emissions are .008 micrograms per cubic metre, which is approximately 2 per cent of the air quality limit," Mr Nelson said.
He said the NSW Environmental Protection Authority set a maximum in stack concentration of .1 nanograms - one millionth of a gram - per cubic metre for dioxins, and to date RMT's highest dioxin emission had been .01 nanograms per cubic metre, a 10th of the limit.
"We monitor the soil here on site (for lead); it's not a part of our licence, it's an additional thing we do," Mr Nelson said.
"And there has been no change in the soil quality."
Mr Vains said installing the latest and best technology would be part of the plant's expansion.
"The technology that will be used will be the best available," Mr Vains said.
"We don't have any interest in dropping our standards.
"We will maintain our standards - that is the bottom line here - despite what the production volume is."
RMT held a planning meeting with government representatives in Wagga this week to discuss what will be required for a development application.
It is not known when the application will be lodged, but part of the process will involve community consultation, including talking with Bomen and nearby Eunony residents.
RMT's increased production of lead recycling will come from closing another lead acid battery recycling plant in Sydney.
The majority of the recycled lead is used in the manufacture of new batteries.
The company also recycles the plastic from batteries and plans to relocate equipment from Adelaide.
Sodium sulphate from the used batteries is sold to detergent manufacturers.
About 100 new jobs will be created with RMT's Bomen expansion, the company says.
