Blog

Substitutes for 3 Hazardous Products Commonly Found in the Home 14/10/2016
When we think of toxic or hazardous materials, our minds often jump to industrial products such as chemicals or building materials. However, in reality, there are many seemingly innocuous items lying around your home which can pose a threat to human health and the environment. This week, we take a look at three common household …
The Challenges of Developing Former Industrial Sites in Victoria
Urban renewal has been a buzzword in Melbourne’s development industry for the last two decades but in recent years the trend of developing former industrial blocks around the inner city has reached fever pitch with land in suburbs like Abbotsford, Box Hill, Collingwood, Footscray and Richmond being snapped up like hotcakes for both residential and …
How Soil Testing Benefits Your Business 10/10/2016
At face value, soil testing might not seem like anything more than another unnecessary bureaucratic hoop that developers and commercial landowners have to jump through in order to get a planning permit or a tick from the EPA, there are a number of ways in which this seemingly innocuous process can add value to your …
Understanding the Environmental Impact of Petroleum 05/09/2016
One of the world’s most common fossil fuels, petroleum is used in the production of everything from toothpaste to jet fuel. However, our reliance on this fossil fuel has a devastating environmental effect which extends far beyond oil spills and truck exhaust. This week, we take a closer look at the environmental impact of petroleum. …
4 Ways to Reduce Chemical Consumption in Your Home
At Alpha Environmental, we work to find environmental management solutions to a number of hazardous substances and chemicals which can be found around the home. Although the environmental impact of substances like lead paint and asbestos are now well recognised and regulated, there are plenty of other commonly used household chemicals which have an adverse …
The Alpha Guide to Hazardous Materials Audits 30/08/2016
For developers and business owners, it can be difficult to identify the right environmental consulting process for your commercial needs. Alpha Environmental specialise in a wide range of environmental consulting practices, and this week, we’re taking a closer look at one of our most popular services, the Hazardous Materials Audit. What is it? A Hazardous …
Asbestos Management Plan 22/08/2016
All Australian workplaces have a duty to protect their employees from the harmful effects of asbestos as part of the OHS Act. Exposure to asbestos fibres is associated with a range of serious reparatory conditions and workplace managers need to take every precaution to ensure their employees are not at risk of exposure. If asbestos …
5 Facts About Groundwater 12/08/2016
Little understood, and easily contaminated, yet crucial to sustaining a growing global population faced with the challenges of climate change, groundwater is one of the most important natural resources on earth. In this article, we strive to shed light on this invisible life source with five eye opening facts. Groundwater is an important water source …
4 Sources of Lead Around the Home 11/08/2016
Prized for it’s malleability, density, ability to hold pigment and resistance to corrosion, lead was used for a wide range of construction, production and even medicinal purposes throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Although the health risks of lead were known about as early as Roman times, however its usefulness was deemed to outweigh its …
The Effects of Soil Contamination 02/08/2016
This blog often explores the ways that human activity has had a devastating effect on the fragile ecosystems in which we live. One of the most nefarious ways human pollution alters the natural environment is through soil contamination, which poisons all living things from the smallest bacteria to the humans who eat produce from the …
7 Fast Facts About Pesticides in Australia 27/07/2016
With one of the Western world’s strongest agrarian economies, it will come as little surprise to learn that Australia is a prolific producer and consumer of pesticides. Australia has a long history of using pesticides in agricultural and forestry practices and as a result, pesticide contamination is widespread across both rural and urban areas. This …
Factors that Increase the Need for Environmental Site Management 20/07/2016
Environmental management is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you purchase a new house or business premises but in some circumstances, it can play a crucial role in protecting the health and welfare of those living or working on your property. This week, we take a look at a few of …
The Safety Hazards of Asbestos 28/06/2016
Whether it’s at home or in the work place, the presence of asbestos can pose many safety risks. Asbestos was commonly used as a building material in Australia between the 1940s and late 1980s, as it was durable, fire resistant and an efficient insulator. Today, asbestos is no longer mined or used in Australia because …
Breaking Down the Hydrogeological Assessment (Groundwater Quality) Process 02/06/2016
Groundwater quality plays a crucial role in the health of the surrounding environment and it’s imperative that we do everything we can to protect it by minimising the impact of human activity. A hydrogeological assessment is key to preserving groundwater quality and identifying any possible contamination issues that may be present. In this article, we …
The Importance of Environmental Consulting 25/05/2016
Whilst environmental consulting might seem like a time consuming and unnecessary expense, it is actually a process that will ultimately benefit your business and is crucial to preserving both human health and the environment. But that’s not all an environmental consultant does. They’re also experts at spreading awareness around the community or in the workplace. …