Tar Ponds Weblog

In the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup Times June 2010 newsletter, there is an aerial photograph of Solidification and Stabilization (SS) work in the south pond.  SS involves mixing over 100,000 tonnes of cement powder with 700,000 tonnes of hazardous waste, referred to by government as a ‘cleanup’.  To minimize the dust created by mixing dry cement powder with toxic sludge using an excavator bucket, workers spray the work area continuously.  STPA’s aerial picture shows a cloud of dust around the excavator, which they describe as water vapor.  View our video below and you will see just how much is cement dust and how little is water vapor.  They obviously cannot control the dust generated by this crude activity, nor can they control the choking stench wafting through our community.  While the amount of cement added to each cell must be precise, it’s clear to see just how much of it is blown away into the community.  So much for that recipe.

The excavator begins mixing 30 seconds into the video.