Our Focus on Safety & the Environment

Wednesday, 1 April 2020 by Ri Industries

As a pre-cast concrete manufacturer, we view the safety of our workers and our environment as our number 1 priority. So we are particularly glad to report a number of things happening at Ri-Industries, as well as all the additional work practices we have put in place in relation to the current COVID-19 crisis.

Silicosis is widely talked about in the workplace and via Safework SA (it is an incurable and often fatal lung disease contracted through exposure to silica dust).

It can affect people working in very dusty environments as the tiny particles are respirable or – in plain language – inhalable. This is widely prevalent in areas of cutting stone but also in grinding concrete.

Working with concrete can be dusty work. As a pre-cast concrete manufacturer, we are committed and focused on reducing the amount of dust in processes and our factories. This includes undertaking specialist measurements of respirable dust in our environment and during certain processes as part of the manufacture of pre-cast concrete products.

Our communication with staff and interaction with safety suppliers ensures we are not just wearing face masks but staff are trained in how to fit their masks properly, which makes a huge difference to their effectiveness, keeping harmful respirable dust out.

Other initiatives include, but are not limited to, filtration cleaning systems, grinding systems and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which also positively work with our environmental approach.

Therefore, we are pleased to report that having recently had a dust survey and full inspection at both our factories in Wingfield and Angle Park, our levels of respirable dust were between 0.1 and 0.4mg/m³ – well below the Safe Work limit of 1mg/m³. We don’t just work to the guidelines that are set, we always go above and beyond at Ri-Industries.

Ri-Industries also has three certifications by the Certification Approval Panel of TQCS International which require annual audits. You can learn about these certifications in one of our previous blogs, but here is a brief summary:

AS 4801: Safety – Demonstrating compliance with internal and external safety systems, including performance, preventive measures and monitoring.
ISO 9001: Quality – Recognising our compliance in areas including client liaison, internal communication, issue resolution and efforts toward continuous improvement.
ISO 14001: Environment – Acknowledging our commitment to preserving the environment and preventing pollution.

The certification process is thorough, and approval is not easy to achieve. We are incredibly proud to earn these and appreciative of the dedication our staff show to safety. And for our customers it’s good to know you’re dealing with a company so focused on the safety of our workers and our environment.

Unclog Drains Without Harsh Chemicals

Thursday, 5 September 2019 by Ri Industries

No matter how careful you are when using the sinks in your home, inevitably you will come up against a clogged drain. Perhaps the water is simply slow to drain down the pipe or the pipe is completely clogged and no water is draining. Either way, a fix is needed. Calling a plumber is an option of course, but if you choose to battle the clog yourself you have a choice to make.<

Do you want harsh chemicals making their way into your sewer system and eventually into the waterways? Do you want to breathe in the harsh chemicals while they do their work? Bleach and sodium hydroxide are the main ingredients in drain cleaners and are severely corrosive. Contact via inhalation, ingestion, skin, and the eyes can cause major irritation, vision problems, vomiting, shock if ingested, and even thermal and/or chemical burns. If you need to clear your drains regularly, you are at risk of many potential health problems.

To avoid any potential problems, you will need to find alternative processes that will work to clear the drain without using harsh chemicals. Ri-Industries respects that decision and offers these following options for you to try, based on our knowledge of septic systems.

A simple and cost-effective alternative to harsh chemicals is to use washing liquid and hot water. When the clog is caused by grease buildup, this is an especially good option. Simply squirt a good amount of washing liquid down the drain and follow that with a kettle full of boiling water. This will break down the grease and clear the clog.
When baking soda and vinegar combine, a chemical reaction happens which will bubble up and dissipate the clog. Begin by bailing out any standing water and removing all debris. Pour 1/2 a box of dry baking soda into the drain and then pour 1/2 cup a vinegar into the drain. IMMEDIATELY create a tight seal with a plunger or stopper. The chemical reaction will be similar to those volcano experiments at primary school so be sure the hole is completely sealed to keep everything in the drain. Wait approximately 30 minutes and then pour a kettle full of boiling water down the drain. The drain should now be clear.
Baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide will also work. Mix one cup of hydrogen peroxide with 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Pour down the drain and allow to foam. This should remove the clog.

You can clear a clog and still be gentle on your health and the environment by using the above options. If you have questions about your septic system, our experts will be happy to assist you. Please call us at 08 8444 8100.

Times Are Dry

Wednesday, 13 February 2019 by Ri Industries

Adelaide just recorded its driest January since 1957 and water has been in short demand. This seems like a good time to discuss how you can save water in your home. Let’s look at water use in the bathroom and kitchen.

Did you know 40% of all water used in the home is used in the bathroom? To help conserve water and save money, the first thing to do is look at the appliances and look for products with a high star rating. The average home can save approximately $150/year by installing a standard 3-star rated shower head which costs approximately $20.

Some simple habit changes can also help save water in the bathroom:

Take shorter showers.
Use a timer in the shower to help you keep track of time.
Use a bucket to collect water while waiting for the water to get hot. Use the collected water on plants or other household uses.
Insulate hot water pipes.
Do not run water while shaving. Use water only to rinse off.
Only use as much water as is necessary in the bath.
Monitor the temperature as the bath fills to avoid adding water to regulate the temperature.
Collect used bathwater to use in the garden or to wash cars.
Use 4-star rated toilets.
Regularly check toilets for leaks and repair when needed.
Turn the water in the sink off when brushing teeth or shaving. Use running water only to rinse.

Another method to conserve water is to install a rainwater tank such as the one manufactured by Ri-Industries. Once the rain starts coming again, it can be collected from your roof and gutters. The rainwater tanks Adelaide can be connected to your toilet plumbing. Then, every time you flush, you are using rainwater, instead of water from the mains. Recycled rainwater is an excellent way to conserve water, plus it will save on your monthly water bills.

Let’s move to the kitchen where around 10% of total household water is consumed. Here are tips to help save water:

Dishwashers consume the most water in the kitchen. Look for the WELS label of water efficiency. The more stars, the more water efficient the appliance. Only run the dishwasher when it is full. If the dishwasher has a rinse-hold setting, use it in lieu of rinsing dishes with sink water.
Do not run water over frozen food to defrost. Instead, defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Use washing-up liquid sparingly to limit the amount of rinsing required.
Waiting for the running water to warm up? Catch it in a container and use it to water plants, rinse dishes, or wash fruits and vegetables.
Use a plugged sink or a bowl of water whenever possible to avoid running the tap.

Small changes can mean big savings in water consumption. In dry times like these, it’s important for us all to make an effort. Call Ri-Industries, at 08 8444 8100, to learn more about our concrete rainwater tanks.

To Bidet or Not To Bidet?

Thursday, 19 May 2016 by Ri Industries

Bidets are often thought to go hand in hand with the ultra rich, but in recent years environmentalists have sparked a debate over the benefits of bidet usage. Ri Industries would like to offer some of the points of discussion to help you get to the, ahem, bottom of the issue and decide for yourself if using a bidet fits in your environmental plan.

Perhaps your first thought is, wait a minute! Australia has a dangerously dry climate and we work so hard to conserve water. Why on earth would I add water to a dry process that has worked just fine for me? Well that’s a reasonable question. Obviously, using a bidet will increase the amount of water used during each trip to the bathroom, but there are many factors which show using a bidet may actually result in less overall water usage.

Before we expand on the water usage, let’s discuss saving the trees. What? When did trees enter our bathrooms? Trees are wrapped around that spindle in the form of toilet paper. Think about how much toilet paper you use on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. Now multiply that by the number of people in your household, your city, etc. We use a lot of toilet paper. There have been many studies to learn exactly how much and the consensus is that each person uses approximately 1 – 2 rolls of toilet paper per week. That means 1 person uses about 100 rolls per year. 1 pine tree can produce 2000 rolls or enough toilet paper for 20 people per year. In 2015, Australia had an estimated population of 23.9 million people. 11,950 trees will be sacrificed for Australians on a yearly basis. What is the bidets impact on this? Complete elimination of toilet paper, or at the least, a reduction in the use of toilet paper. While the bidet will handle the cleaning aspect, some may still want assistance with the drying process. Of course cloth could be used, but again, some may prefer using something disposable.

So it seems rather clear that using a bidet can reduce paper waste, but let’s go back to water waste. How does a bidet save water if it in fact introduces more water into the bathroom process? The answer brings us back to toilet paper. What you may not realize is just how water intensive the paper manufacturing process is. According to mnn.com, “Even if water used by a mill is locally sourced, rather than drawn from a municipal system, the effluent from paper production invariably finds its way back into the environment. That means a flood of organic waste and chemical residue which must be processed or, worse yet absorbed, after being treated and dumped into some unlucky river or ocean.” Bidets use a fraction a the water used to manufacture toilet paper; even less than manufacturing recycled toilet paper.

These are two of the major points in the debates about the environmental impact of bidets. What are your thoughts? Would you be comfortable using a bidet if it made a positive impact on our environment?

How to Make a Pet Waste Digester

Thursday, 4 February 2016 by Ri Industries

Ri Industries provides quality septic systems for human waste, but what about those who share their home with furry family members? An environmentally friendly method to dispose of pet waste is needed as well.

Search online and you will find doggie septic systems you can purchase; or you can follow these step-by step instructions we found on thebark.com and build one yourself.

Take an old plastic rubbish container and drill a dozen or so holes in the sides.
Cut out the bottom. (A keyhole saw works great for this.)
Dig a hole deep enough for the rubbish container.
Toss some rocks or gravel in the hole for drainage and position the rubbish container so it’s a little above ground level.
Place the lid on top. (You might want to paint something like “Dog Waste Composter” across the lid.)
Start scooping

It is recommended you sprinkle some septic starter when you add poop. The septic starter should begin to work within 48 hours and you can then add poop daily.

What do you think? It seems simple enough and after a little bit of work you have a clean and environmentally way to dispose of pet waste. Let us know how it works if you decide to give it a try.

Teach Kids About Waste Water with this Recipe for Poo

Monday, 24 August 2015 by Ri Industries

The environment is one of the greatest gifts we pass on to the next generation. It is important that we teach them to treat it well, respect it, and nurture it so it can be passed on to further generations. Ri Industries is always on the lookout for ways to help teach children about caring for the environment; especially conserving water.

We came across a video made by SA Water which included a recipe for poo. You may be wondering why anyone would possibly need a recipe since we’ve all been making poo since we were born. We wondered too and found out that SA Water uses the poo recipe to get kids interested in talking about waste water. We’d like to share the recipe with you, along with some talking points, so you can begin a dialogue with the kids in your life.

Poo Recipe

Ingredients:

Baked Beans
Corn
Banana
Chocolate Muffins

Place all ingredients in a bowl. This is the meal going into the stomach. Add some saliva (water) and use a potato masher to mash up the mixture. Place in a plastic bag. Cut a small hole in the bottom of the bag and squeeze.

Now that the kids are chuckling and paying attention, lay some education on them. Here are some important facts they should know:

Feces and urine make up just a very small part of wastewater and is a small part of what goes down into the sewers.
.1% of materials that wind up in wastewater treatment plants are solid. The rest is water! We use a lot of water to wash waste away.
It is imperative that we recover that water.
The water must be cleaned up before it is returned to the environment.

A bit of fun. A bit of learning. A great way to get the conversation started and create awareness. While you’re at, why not give us a call and learn about our residential and commercial products to see how you can help preserve our environment.

Conserve Water by Using Waterless Urinals

Thursday, 16 July 2015 by Ri Industries

Australians are bombarded with information about our dry climate and concerns of drought. Ri Industries contributes by encouraging water conservation and providing tips to conserve as much water as you can. One method of water conservation that we have not touched upon is the waterless urinal. Now don’t be frightened of what a waterless urinal might look like, or worse even, smell like, after a number of uses. Let us explain the process before you make up your mind.

Let’s start with why one must flush a urinal. After all, isn’t the item deposited into the urinal a liquid that will just go down the drain? Of course the answer to that is yes, but that liquid most likely has a certain odour attached to it and without flushing the shiny porcelain with water, that odour may linger. In a regular urinal, water pools in a U-shaped trap under the drain, forming a seal against sewer gases below. In contrast, a cartridge of liquid sealant sits on top of the drain in a waterless urinal. The liquid is lighter than the urine, which sinks through the cartridge and drains out. The sealant keeps any sewer gases from backing up. Such a simple solution that can make a great impact in our efforts to conserve water.

It seems the biggest hurdle in using waterless urinals is us: humans. We’re not always easy to retrain. Old habits die hard and we don’t like change. Reports show that most of the problems seen with waterless urinals are due to human error during maintenance. One of the largest manufacturers of waterless urinals is now developing a product which eliminates the need for humans to get involved, except for changing the cartridge every so often, so improvements should be seen.

What do you think? Do waterless urinals sound like a good conservation tool? We do!

Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Toilet Paper

Tuesday, 19 May 2015 by Ri Industries

Hopefully, you have read our previous blogs and know that they are full of useful and important information about septic systems, green living, and water conservation. There is one topic which has been overlooked despite the impact it has on each of these topics: toilet paper.
How do you choose the toilet paper you buy? Do you grab the least expensive? Do you look for “green” labeling? Do you choose 1 ply, 2 ply, or 3 ply? Do you research which brand will have the least effect on our environment? Perhaps you are uncertain what you should consider before making this important purchase, so we have compiled a number of facts to educate and entertain you.
• Did you know that approximately 70 – 75% of the world does NOT use toilet paper? Some areas of the world have a lack of trees which means not enough resources to produce the paper. Some people cannot afford toilet paper whilst others just don’t want to spend money on fancy paper that is made just to wipe their bums.
• A roll of toilet paper lasts approximately 5 days in an average household.
• On average, people use 8 – 9 sheets of toilet paper per use with an average of 57 sheets per day.
• On average, 384 trees are used to make the toilet paper one man will use in a lifetime.
• The first paper specifically designed for the task of cleaning ones’ bottom dates back to the 14th century when a Chinese emperor ordered it in 2 foot X 3 foot sheets.
• Rolled and perforated toilet paper, as we use today, dates back to the 1880’s.
• People who hang the paper to be pulled from behind are considered to be more intelligent than those who hang it to be pulled from the top.
• In 1935, Northern Tissue proudly advertised splinter free toilet paper. That’s right, be grateful for the softness we experience today!
• In 1999, The Virtual Toilet Paper Museum opened.
• Only five percent of the toilet paper we flush away in Australia is made from recycled paper.
1millionwomen.com provides some good information on the effects of worldwide toilet paper production and its impact on the environment. For example, how many brands claim to be “green”, but are not as green as we are led to believe. They explain just what we should look for in green toilet paper.
If going green is not your top concern, perhaps you would like to go gold. Yes, Toilet Paper Man has a limited supply (1) of 3 ply toilet paper with 24 carat gold throughout the roll. Best of all, this product is proudly made right here in Australia!

Why Should I Worry About Water Conservation?

Thursday, 2 April 2015 by Ri Industries

Hearing about water conservation when living in Australia is common. We know there is a shortage and we understand that we should take steps to help conserve it. Taking these steps in our daily life can sometimes be frustrating and it’s easy to ignore the steps “just this once.” Ri Industries provides quality products to help make water conservation as seamless and simple as possible for you and we thought sharing a few facts about why water conservation is so important might help keep you motivated.

Water is nature’s most precious resource and it is needed to sustain life. Well, that seems important enough that we could just stop there, but we have more.
Since the 1950s, every decade has witnessed more water withdrawals by humans.
Water is used commercially, domestically, industrially and for irrigation purposes. It plays a vital role in the life support system.
Water levels across the globe are decreasing and there are signs of stress on all water resources.
The plants and animals we eat also depend on water. Our food supply is at risk when we waste water.

Conserving water requires efforts from every human being on this planet. We must all make a concerted effort on a daily basis. Ri Indu stries is proud to offer solutions to help conserve water on our planet. To learn more, please call us at 08 8444 8100.

Teaching Kids About Green Living

Monday, 23 February 2015 by Ri Industries

“Green Living”, “Green Cleaning”, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. These are all terms our children hear just about every day. We talk to them about saving our planet, the importance of trees, and that it is wrong to litter or pollute. The environment is important to us too at Ri Industries. We work hard to help our community conserve water and have clean water to drink. But we wonder, are these politically correct terms just words our kids are used to hearing, or do they truly understand the importance of their message?

We encourage interactions that produce true understanding in the kids. In a previous blog, we wrote How to Teach Children About Water Conservation. Now, we would like to talk about the green movement in general. We searched for resources or tools that would be useful and came across Jim Henson’s Sid the Science Kid. Here are some tips that Sid offers:

*Don’t waste water
You can save water by turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, telling an adult if the faucet is leaking and not filling the bath tub to the very top. We can only use a teeny part of the water that’s in the world, so we have to try to not waste it.

*Reduce air pollution
Engines create dirty air which is also known as air pollution. You can reduce air pollution by riding bikes and walking instead of using a car. If we stop our air from getting dirty in the first place, we won’t have to worry about cleaning it later.

*Plant a tree
Trees are beautiful and they are useful in so many ways. One of the most important things they do is clean the air we breathe. You can do your part to help by planting a tree, and watering trees and plants to help them grow.

*Recycle
Objects made of glass, paper and plastic should be recycled because they can be made into something new. Help mom and dad separate all recyclable products from the trash and take them to a recycling center.

* Preserve animal habitats
Animal habitats are all around us. A habitat is a place outdoors where animals live and find food and shelter. Be careful not to disrupt habitats when you share their space. If we interfere with a habitat, the animals’ homes could be destroyed.

The best way to teach our children is leading by example. Don’t just talk to your kids about “going green”, but work green concepts into your daily life. We only have one planet to leave them, let’s make it a good one.

Why is Water Conservation So Important?

Thursday, 13 November 2014 by Ri Industries

Water is one of the most important natural resources we need, but it is also a resource we have misused and wasted. To better understand the growing importance of water conservation, let’s look at a few facts.

First, the average adult human body is 50-65% water, averaging around 57-60%. The percentage of water in infants is much higher, typically around 75-78% water, dropping to 65% by one year of age. To remain healthy, we must replenish the water we lose through sweat, tears, urine, etc. We need drinkable water supplies in abundance.

Second, the Earth has a finite amount of water. The water we have now is all we get, it is recycled over and over. The water cycle can help understand why this is.

Solar energy evaporates water from the ocean, lakes and rivers. Millions of litres of water rise into the atmosphere as an invisible gas – water vapour. This process is called evaporation.

As the water vapour is pushed over the land by winds and rises over mountains, the water vapour cools and turns back into tiny water droplets, forming clouds. The droplets joining together is termed condensation. These droplets fall to earth as rain (precipitation).

The rain runs into streams and rivers, which eventually flow into lakes or the sea and the cycle begins all over again.

Third, water is required for our food. It grows our fruits and vegetable and it is consumed by cattle.

Fourth, water is necessary for plant life which is necessary to keep us healthy. Plants re-oxygenate the air. Plants are used to make medications. Trees are used for housing, paper, and so much more.

The above are just a few tidbits to help explain why Ri Industries is so committed to water conservation efforts. To learn how our products can help with conservation, call us at 08 8444 8100.

Where Does Water Come From?

Thursday, 16 October 2014 by Ri Industries

How many sources of water do you know? There may be more than you realize, which is why the theme for this years’ National Water Week (19 -25 October 2014) is Water Sources. The concerns of water shortage in Australia is well known, so it is vital that we understand where our water comes from and how we can make it last.

Here is a basic list of water sources:

Surface water – water on the Earth’s surface which can be found in a stream, river, lake, wetland, ocean or a dam.
Groundwater – water that occupies the spaces between particles of soil (sand, silt and clay) or rock beneath the earth’s surface.
Desalinated water – Desalination is the removal of salt, especially from sea water.
Stormwater – rainwater that has run off roads, roofs, paved areas etc. and is usually conveyed by constructed drains.
Wastewater – mostly from showers, baths and washing machines. After you’ve used your water, it enters a wastewater pipe, and then into the sewer mains (if you’re on mains) and eventually it reaches a wastewater treatment plant.
Groundwater replenishment – an innovative concept where treated wastewater is further treated to drinking water standards and recharged into groundwater supplies. The water is then stored and taken out some time later for further treatment and supply to a drinking water system. This source is currently only available in WA.
Recycled water – the use of treated wastewater or appropriately treated drainage water. Before being recycled, wastewater is treated, according to stringent health regulations, to meet the appropriate standard for its intended use. When reused for a beneficial purpose, this water is known as recycled. Increasing the amount of water we recycle is vital to maintaining a reliable, safe and sustainable water supply and becoming climate resilient. Recycled water can be used for a range of purposes such as:

Irrigation of sports grounds, golf courses and public open spaces
Industrial processing
Groundwater replenishment
Toilet flushing / clothes washing / garden watering
Environmental benefits (e.g. maintaining wetlands) Irrigation of food crops. Irrigation of non-food crops (e.g. trees, woodlots, turf, flowers)
Construction / dust suppression

Ri-Industries concrete rainwater tanks and Ri-Treat waste water treatment systems are exceptional tools to help reduce water waste. Call us today on 08 8444 8100, to learn more about our products.

Recycling & Environment