The Benefits of a Multi-Barrier Case System
There are a lot of things that go into maintaining a geological repository, a facility that can offer long term storage, treatment, recovery and permanent isolation of equipment and hazardous waste services. These materials are isolated from the biosphere over geological time, which can mean anywhere from hundreds of thousands to even millions of years. These are dangerous materials, and they need to be kept in a safe place. To make sure that your geological repository is working correctly, you need to implement tools like a multi-barrier system.
What is a multi-barrier case system?
A multi-barrier case system helps to contain a high level of hazardous waste and chemical waste by implementing a combination of carefully selected active (man-made engineered barriers) and passive control measures (natural barriers). Depending on the system you use, you should have multiple fail-safe mechanisms. Tellus’ system does, and the best barrier to use is a passive control system. This is a barrier that doesn’t need to be monitored, consisting of a carefully selected site and host rock that is the fundamental property of geological waste repositories. This means the system will remain passively safe throughout geological time.
Why is it necessary?
Due to dwindling resources and a rising population, Australia is one of highest producers of waste per capita. Australian lifestyles contribute to the depleting of finite resources, which leads to the creation of many products that end up in a landfill. The reality is that waste is a hugely valuable resource, but we don’t always have the technology to properly dispose of it. Because of this, geological repositories are built to house the hazardous waste for future generations to responsibly dispose of it. A multi-barrier system keeps the geological repository working, which is instrumental to keeping hazardous waste away from the biosphere.
How Tellus is Planning for the Future
Tellus’ primary purpose is to protect our environment by putting difficult to manage wastes to good use and finding innovative ways for the waste to re-enter the circular economy. We store these resources in a “like with like” fashion to become a secondary recovery mine of tomorrow for future generations. This creates the ability to reduce the amount of primary resources mined and its associated reduction in energy and greenhouse gases required to convert the primary resource into a useful product.
What is a Geological Repository?
Governments across the globe are looking for alternative solutions to surface landfills. Storage of hazardous waste is an important undertaking that makes an impact on the surrounding environment, so it is our responsibility to make sure that hazardous waste is stored and isolated safely and responsibly. One of the best new alternatives to surface landfills is a geological repository.
What do they do?
Geological repositories are facilities that can offer longer storage, treatment, recovery and permanent isolation of equipment and hazardous waste services. These facilities are considered to have the ability to contain hazardous wastes over a long period of geological time, up to hundreds of thousands or even millions of years. Waste should be seen as a future valuable resource for future generations to find responsible uses for it. While we may not have a value for hazardous waste at this point in time, we want to create the opportunity for future generations that may have the technology to re-enter the waste into the circular economy.
How do they do work?
The geological repositories can maintain these wastes through a combination of carefully selected active (man-made engineered barriers) and passive control (natural, geological barriers) measures. This is a multi-barrier system, which helps to contain a high level of hazardous and chemical waste materials. Tellus uses both selected active and passive control measures to keep everything managed. The reason for combining these measures is that if the engineered barriers fail at some point over geological time, the natural barriers will keep the materials safe. The great benefit of a passive control system is that it doesn’t need to be constantly monitored, because it consists of a carefully selected site and host rock that is the fundamental property of geological waste repositories.
The Benefits of a Tellus Geological Repository
Australia produces about 6 million tonnes of hazardous waste each year, so it’s important to us that we provide a safe and responsible way to store this waste so that it stays out of surface landfills. While Australia continues to be one of the largest emitters of hazardous waste per capita, we are striving to create future opportunities for our current waste materials. Tellus has two major geological repositories, the Sandy Ridge ClayVault and the Chandler SaltVault. Each of these repositories provide low liability, low maintenance and safe geological storage. Once we receive materials for storage, we store them in a “like with like” fashion that allows for a secondary recovery mines of tomorrow. With our efforts, we hope to create a safer, more eco-friendly environment for the future.
Sandy Ridge Project Update -Oct 2019-HV and LV Lease Agreements Signed
- Tellus and Tehmar* sign a 5 year heavy vehicle supply& maintenance agreement for operations stage
- Tellus and Corefleetsign a light vehicle supply andmaintenance agreement for build & operations
- Tellus’ specialist heavy equipment, heavy vehicles, lightvehicles and expert teams are getting operationallyready for 2020
Sandy Ridge Project Update -Oct 2019 -Environmental Baseline Studies
- Tellus has spent five years performing environmental baseline studies (EBS) for the Sandy Ridge project
- EBS cover mainly soils, water, flora, fauna, climate, air quality and background radiation etc.
- Sound EBS are the key to a good monitoring and evaluation system before major development occurs
Tellus shareholder update – Equity Funding Package
Shareholder Update – Equity Funding Package
Please note that Boardroom Pty Ltd (Tellus’ share register manager) sent an update to all shareholders today on behalf of Tellus Holdings Ltd (Tellus) that included a business update and information on an offer from a new potential investor.Read more
Chandler reduces footprint and continues to make regulatory progress
- Tellus has lodged a variation to the Chandler Project with the NT EPA
- Variation reduces the proposed environmental impact with an expected 35% reduction in project footprint
- The variation includes a proposed A$60 million (M) upgrade to Maryvale road funded by Tellus and a proposed A$7 M development of an inter-modal transit station at Brewer Industrial Estate
- Tellus has lodged a Notice of Intent with the NT EPA for the proposed inter-modal transit station at Brewer Industrial Estate
Sandy Ridge Project Update – Tellus Signs 15 Year PPA for 50% Solar Diesel Battery Hybrid
- Tellus appoints General Counsel and Company Secretary
- Tellus expands Human Resources capability
- Tellus fills newly created specialist and functional roles
Tellus advances operational readiness with expanding team
- Tellus appoints General Counsel and Company Secretary
- Tellus expands Human Resources capability
- Tellus fills newly created specialist and functional roles
Sandy Ridge Project Update – July 2019
- Long lead air dome manufacturing complete and in transit to Port of Fremantle, WA
- Modular buildings manufacturing nearing completion
- Pre-gate enabling infrastructure upgrades and maintenance works continue as planned
- EPC contractor continues to progress detailed design
- Mt Dimer air strip earthworks almost complete
- Site establishment works commences in line with current environmental regulatory approvals
The following is a brief summary of our recent activities at our Sandy Ridge Facility.
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Sandy Ridge Project Update – June 2019
- Air dome manufacturing completed in St Louis (USA) and in transit via ship to Fremantle port
- Modular buildings fabrication 80% complete
- Pre gate enabling infrastructure upgrades and maintenance works continue as planned
- EPC contractor continues to progress detailed design and procurement of sub contracts
- Mt Dimer aerodrome upgrade commenced with completion planned for later this month.
The following is a brief summary of our recent activities at our Sandy Ridge Facility.Read more