Environmental Protection at the Sites

Environmental protection at Aurubis Italia, Avellino site

Aurubis Italia, the only copper rod producer in southern Italy, is located in Avellino. In 2023, a total of around 90 employees produced about 180,000 t of rod and about 2,500 t of wire for special applications.

Aurubis Italia has had an IPPC permit since 2009 (IPPC refers to the EU Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control). The high efficiency of Aurubis Italia’s production lines enables nearly 100 % of the raw materials used to be processed into products.

Modern cleaning and filter facilities keep off-gas and wastewater to a minimum. Wastewater is continuously monitored before being released into the sewer system thanks to an automatic water sampling system. A street sweeper cleans the roads and yards at the Avellino site, which has reduced the metal load in the discharged water.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the rolling mill were significantly reduced by lowering the use of isopropyl alcohol. The VOCs are collected and treated with a scrubber system. The fugitive emissions in the smelting area were considerably reduced due to a vacuum system and hoods on the launders and holding furnace. Dust emissions and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from the shaft furnace have been drastically reduced. Many small energy-saving initiatives have been implemented during the last few years thanks to continuous improvements in the production process.

Aurubis Italia successfully completed the EMAS registration (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) in July 2019.

The main focuses of Aurubis Italia Srl are:

  • Continuously improving environmental performance, in particular energy consumption and material efficiency
  • Demonstrating compliance with environmental regulations with maximum transparency
  • Publicly releasing its environmental strategy, environmental program, environmental management system, and key environmental performance data
  • Openly engaging with interested parties (employees, local authorities, suppliers, etc.)
Environmental Protection Avellino - facts & figures
Air emissions - Dust

In 2011, Aurubis Italia initially installed a pilot plant followed by an inert dosing system to reduce dust and POPs. The higher dust emissions in 2021/2022 were caused by the lower efficiency of the old baghouse filters from the dust treatment system of the shaft furnace. Actions have been initiated to reduce dust emissions, and the baghouse filters were replaced in August 2022.

Dust emissions in g/t copper produced
Water emissions - Metal content in sewer

Aurubis Italia has increased the efficiency of its wastewater treatment plant.

Metal emissions to water in g/t copper produced
Environmental measures that have been implemented
Water emissions: Improving wastewater treatment plant: Improvement of internal rainwater network and filter press for sludges

Description of measure:

  • Specific treatment for casting machine cooling water installed to reduce surfactants

Date of completion:

  • Completed in September 2019
EMAS certification (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme): EMAS registration

Description of measure:

  • EMAS registration successfully completed: IT-001951 on July 29, 2019

Date of completion:

  • Completed in July 2019
Water emissions: Installation of filter press system in wastewater treatment plant

Description of measure:

  • Filter press system in wastewater treatment plant to reduce waste sludges

Date of completion:

  • Completed in September 2020
Air emissions: Reduction of isopropanol consumption

Description of measure:

  • Reduction of isopropanol consumption, direct and fugitive emissions (TVOCs, total volatile organic compounds) ducted, and fugitive emissions by refurbishing emulsion filtration system

Date of completion:

  • Completed in September 2022
Air emissions: Modernization of shaft furnace dust treatment plant

Description of measure:

  • Replaced with higher performance models:

    a) Air heat exchanger (completed)

    b) Heat recovery system for off-gas from shaft furnace (ongoing)

    c) Baghouse filters (ongoing)

Date of completion:

  • Completed in August 2022
Water emission: Implementing filter press system for wastewater treatment plant

Description:

  • Reduced waste sludges 

Status:

  • Completed in September 2020 
Air Emission: Reducing isopropanol consumption

Description:

  • Revamping emulsion filtration system: Reducing isopropanol consumption, TVOCs ducted, and fugitive emissions by revamping emulsion filtration system 

Status:

  • Completed in September 2022 
Air Emission: Revamping shaft furnace dust treatment plant

Description:

  • Replaced with higher performance models:  
    • Air heat exchanger 
    • Heat recovery system for off-gas from shaft furnace 
    • Bag house filters 

Status:

  • Completed in August 2022 
IPPC permit renewal according to the new NFM-BREF (Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Non-Ferrous Metals Industries)

Description:

  • Aurubis Italia’s proposal approved. Waiting for the official EIA Decree

Status:

  • Completed in January 2023
Current important environmental targets and measures
Investigations in order to reduce emissions and reduce energy consumption

Status:

  • Start of feasibility study to capture off-gas from the rolling mill (containing isopropyl alcohol) as oxidation air and pass it as comburent to the burners of the shaft furnace.

  • Completion expected February 2024
Improving water stream collection network to reduce pollutants

Status:

  • Feasibility study ongoing 
  • Evaluation of the next steps
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Contact
Giuseppe Marino
Giuseppe Marino

EHS, Quality & TM Manager

Phone +39 3460221751
Send e-mail
Gianpaolo Antonacci
Gianpaolo Antonacci

Maintenance Engineering & RSPP Manager

Phone +39 3487069545
Send e-mail