Background
There have been laws
in the UK to control pollution since the 1300's when parliament passed laws to
curb the smell from the River Thames polluting their own atmosphere.
Later, Charles 1st banned the use of wood to smelter sand to make glass. There
had been a rapid decline in woods to fuel the habit. This lead to a search for
another fuel and somebody found that coal could do the job even better. Coal was
found near St Helens, where glass is still made to this day. This is a fine early
example of environmental law creating business opportunities.
However, until a couple of decades ago, companies' main concern with environmental
law was being sued through civil action. This private law is essentially based
on contract. Much of the environmental case law arises from competing uses of
land. The land disputes became a mechanism of environmental protection.
The most quoted test case was Rylands v Fletcher
1865 (H 774). An escape of water from a reservoir flooded a mine. This classic
law case established that the liability for the consequences of non-natural operations
on land rests with the owner of the land. The ruling stated:
"Anyone who brings or collects and keeps on his (sic)
land anything likely to do mischief it if escapes must keep it at his peril and
if he does not do so is prima-facie strictly liable
for all that damage which is the natural consequence of its escape"
| This
ruling had consequences for all who pollute. The decision shows that people who
bring any "beasts, water, filth or stench" on to their land have a strict liability
to look after it. This liability has been extended to environmental water, fire,
gases, oil, chemicals, colliery spoil, poisonous vegetation, and even a chair-o-place
at a fairground. But oil from an oil tanker at sea did not qualify - because the
oil did not come from the land. |
|
2/3 of companies surveyed said: "we already
go beyond the requirements of law" |
|
The strict liability is a stronger requirement than trying to prove negligence.
It is not a matter of whether the owner should have foreseen that their operations
could escape. If something escapes, you are liable. The trouble was that to use
this precedent and any other common law, you had to be directly affected in order
to take a case against a company for pollution. Clearly, the environment needs
more protection than that afforded by the immediate neighbours.
In the last twenty years, there has been a major increase in UK parliamentary
environment law. It now ensures that all companies attain a minimum standard of
environmental performance. It encourages investment in environmental initiatives.
It helps to conform to initiatives from other partner organisations and play our
part in the world. Increasingly, EU directives drive
UK environment law.
| The
Environmental Agency (EA) was formed in April 1996 and combines the control of
waste (Waste Regulation Agency WRA), water (National Rivers Authority NRA)and
air (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution). |
Not for the faint hearted:
Complete UK law since 1997 http://www.hmso.gov.uk/legis.htm |
|
Control
The Regulatory
authorities - the Environment Agency and local authorities police UK environment
law. The EA has produced an Enforcement Code. The Code comprises a general statement
of its enforcement policy and a guide to enforcement for its officers.
The Code sets out
principles to:
apply the law 'proportionately', consistently, and transparently, and to target
action at activities giving rise to the most serious environmental damage.
The EA expects 'relevant
good practice' to be followed and, where this has not been done, expects the business
to assess the risks and satisfy the EA that any necessary actions will comply
with the law.
The Code also contains a new non-statutory right for businesses to object to enforcement
measures proposed by the EA. The 'right' is open for businesses - and presumably
individuals, to object to enforcement notices served by the EA, by making representations
directly to the Agency official concerned.
Environmental
Protection Act 1990
The central theme of the Environmental
Protection Act 1990 is to integrate all forms of pollution control. There are
three parts:
Part 1: Integrated Pollution Control (IPC)
IPC covers emissions to land, air and water of the most complex and polluting
companies. The "best practicable means" was used for many years before BATNEEC
was introduced in the Environmental Protection Act.
BATNEEC
| In
order to operate companies must gain authorisation from the EA. Such companies
must show that they use the Best Available Techniques Not Entailing Excessive
Cost (BATNEEC) to minimise their emissions. It should not to be confused with
CATNIP - the Cheapest Available Techniques Not Incurring Prosecution. The application
of BATNEEC is not the only determining factor, but one feature of a complex of
objectives. If a process produced a recognised health hazard, applying BATNEEC
would not get you authorisation. |
The essence of BATNEEC is that the effectiveness
of the chosen technology must be demonstrated by
the operator. The phrase embraces not only the technology
but also the manner the process is operated including
adequate personnel and premises.
|
|
BATNEEC strikes a balance between the best available technology and management
techniques with what the sector can generally afford.
Companies
must show that they use BATNEEC to minimise their emissions.
As the term is relatively new, it is not entirely clear
what it means. Much will be left to the enforcing authority
and future case law to clarify its meaning.
Companies applying for authorisation to operate with the
Environment Agency must show they use BATNEEC. The application
of BATNEEC is not the only determining factor of authorisation,
but one feature of a complex of objectives. If a process
produced a recognised health hazard, applying BATNEEC
would not get authorisation.
|
|
A piggery applied for authorisation under Part 1 of the EPA and was refused by
the local authority. The piggery appealed. The Inspector argued that there had
been a long history of public complaints about smells and of failures of management
practice, and showed there was no attempt to meet BATNEEC. Eventually the inspector
won the case, indicating that consistent breaches from the past may well count
against companies in the future. |
|
In reducing emissions to the lowest practicable level, account
will be taken of local conditions and circumstances, both of
the process and the environment.
From the DoE Guidance on the Meaning of BATNEEC, "BAT" refers to:
- 'best' means the
most effective in 'preventing, minimising or rendering harmless polluting emissions'.
Hence a number of processes can be considered 'best', although each would have
to demonstrate its effectiveness.
- 'available' does
not necessarily imply that the technology is in general use but that it is generally
accessible - and that can be outside the UK
- 'techniques' refers
both to technology or process and how it is operated.
BAT is a whole concept. It
consists not just of the technology but the whole process. BAT includes matters
such as staff numbers, working methods, training, supervision and manner of operating
the process.
| The
"NEEC" is to be considered independently in its application to new and existing
processes. In relation to new processes the presumption is that the best available
techniques will be used. If there is only modest gain for disproportionate costs,
then that can be considered. |
|
In upgrading old processes, there is guidance on NEEC in Articles 12 & 13 of the
Air Framework Directive. |
|
For processes existing prior to 1987, the enforcing authority shall take account
of the:
- plant's technical characteristics
- rate of utilisation and
length of remaining life
- nature and volume of polluting
emissions from it
- desirability of not entailing
excessive costs for the plants concerned in their particular economic situation
BATNEEC
is often expressed in technological terms, so that the enforcing
agency specifies equipment to satisfy requirements. There
are moves to seeing BATNEEC more in terms of emission or performance
standards. Once set, the operator could choose the means to
achieve, which may involve new technologies.
It is implicit in the BATNEEC and the Environment Protection
Act that there is a duty on operators to keep abreast of new
technology. An environment management system would keep up
to date and continually improve.
The European Commission is preparing notes on the application
of BATNEEC to various processes, dealing with abatement options,
monitoring techniques, storage and handling, and emission
controls. While they have no legal status, they will provide
criteria for authorities dealing with applications for authorisation
in the future. BREF Notes have been published for heavy metal
emissions, ammonia, benzene, sulphuric acid and nitric acid
production, cement manufacture and hazardous waste incineration.
Click
for BREF Notes
BPEO
The EA ensures that operators have regard to the Best
Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO). The BPEO is the disposal
with the lowest environmental impact in the long term. The
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution states that the
aim of BPEO is:
"to find the optimum combination
of available methods of disposal so as to limit damage to
the environment to the greatest extent achievable for a reasonable
and acceptable total combined costs to industry and the public
purse"
| Air
emissions from lesser polluting industries are covered by Air Pollution Control
(APC). This is similar to IPC and is regulated by local authorities - except in
Scotland where it is the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. |
|
BPEO is primarily concerned to select the most appropriate or least damaging environmental
alternative for the reception of waste or polluting material. |
|
The Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations
1991 set out the processes which are subject to IPC and APC under the EPA. These
processes are called 'Part A processes'. It is estimated 5000 such plants are
under EA control. They include fuel and power, waste disposal, mineral, chemical,
metal, paper and coating manufacturers, tar and bitumen, di-isocyanate, timber,
animal and plant treatment.
The processes covered by APC are known as 'Part B processes'. All require local
authority authorisation. The EPA gave local authorities powers for the first time
to authorise defined classes of processes dealing wit all likely air emissions
from such processes. They cover some 12,000 operators, in addition to 15,000 small
waste oil burners used in garages and workshops. They include combustion processes,
waste incineration / cremation, glass, ceramic, timber processing, maggot breeding,
iron & steel foundries, non-ferrous metals, cement & lime processes, industrial
finishing of asbestos products, mineral processes, animal and plant treatment,
di-isocyanate, coating and printing, small combustion processes and rubber processes,
as well as the waste oil burners.
Part 2: Waste on Land
The EPA replaced previous controls
in the Control of Pollution Act 1974. It introduces changes in both the waste
management licensing system and the bodies responsible for waste regulation and
disposal. Local authorities remain the key enforcement bodies, but with extra
demands on the waste disposal industry and all producers or handlers of waste.
Waste includes household, commercial and industrial waste.
It is no longer
possible for a producer of waste to rid themselves of it simply by handing it
over to another. There is now a "duty of care" that applies to anybody who carries,
keeps, treats, or disposes of waste, or who acts as a third party and arranges
matters such as imports or disposal. They must ensure that nobody in the chain
commits an offence regarding waste.
Such people must take reasonable measures to prevent the deposit, treatment or
disposal of waste, except in accordance with a waste management license. Waste
on site should be contained, stored securely, and labelled. It must only be transferred
to an authorised person, accompanied by a transfer note that contains sufficient
information to handle the waste safely. Local authorities must establish and maintain
registers of carriers of controlled waste. An "authorised" person is either a
local authority or the holder of a waste management license. Failure to comply
is a criminal offence, punishable on summary conviction by a fine up to £5,000
or on conviction on indictment by an unlimited fine. The EPA also imposes a civil
liability. This means that any individual or group can claim in Court for costs
of damage inflicted upon them by the illegal management of waste under the terms
of the EPA.
| There
is no express "clean-up" obligations. The aim is to establish a relationship of
responsibility between the producer and the disposal company to ensure the waste
remains in an authorised stream from production to final disposal. |
|
Responsibility for Part IIA of the 1990 Act in Scotland and Wales now rests with
the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales. See consultation latest
in England from www.contaminatedland.co.uk
|
|
The Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 redefines "waste" according
to the definitions in various EU Directives, in particular Framework
Directive on Waste 91/156. It seems that absolutely anything can be "waste"
in given circumstances. For a substance to be waste, it must be discarded. The
DoE have suggested - for guidance only, that you discard something if you dispose
or get rid of it. The essence of the concept seems to lie in whether or not a
substance or object is being put in its final resting place. But that opens as
many questions as it answers!
Part 3 Statutory Nuisance
Statutory nuisance relates to effects which are either prejudicial to human
health or interfere with somebody's use of land. The EPA consolidates previous
law (especially Public Health Act 1936). Statutory nuisances include smoke, fumes,
dust, smell, animals and noise, but not light. This is despite the rapid rise
in complaints about excessive light, in particular from domestic security systems
and sports grounds.
Statutory nuisances under the EPA include:
- any premises in such a
state as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance
- fumes or gases emitted
from premises, so as to be prejudicial to health and a nuisance
- any accumulation or deposit
which is prejudicial to health or a nuisance;
- noise emitted from premises.
A person who fails to comply
with an abatement notice will be liable to a fine up to £20,000. The Noise Act
1996 introduces new powers for local authorities to deal with night-time noise
from domestic premises.
There are five further parts of the EPA covering "litter authorities", genetically
modified organisms, new bodies for nature conservation, powers to restrict importation,
provisions for control of stray dogs and banning the burning of straw.
There is also authorisation for the government to issue regulations to implement
EU obligations. One such is the Environmental Information Regulation 1992 that
enacts EU Directive on Freedom of Access to Information on the Environment 90/313
that relates to freedom of access to information on the environment. Member States
must ensure that public authorities are required to make available information
relating to the environment to any person on request. Under the regulation each
relevant authority must maintain a register of information relating to applications
for authorisations, authorisations granted, variation of enforcement and prohibition
notices issues, revocations of authorisations, appeals, convictions for offences,
and transfers of authorisations. The registers must be available for public inspection
free of charge.
Pollution
Prevention and Control Act 1999
The 1999 Act extends the number
of companies that require Integrated Pollution Control from around 2000 to 5000
and extends the requirements of each company to further measures such as energy
efficiency. It enables new regulations to be made which will:
- implement the requirements
of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive;
- extend integrated control
to around 5,000 extra industrial installations;
- take a far wider range
of environmental impacts into account such as noise, use of raw materials, accident
prevention, site restoration and energy efficiency
More specific Acts relate to
Land, Air and Water.
For EA Guidance and IPPC and 1999 Regulation use the search engine at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs
Workplace:
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
The environment at work is
inextricably linked with the wider environment. Originally this Act included Air
Pollution - hence the "etc" bit. This Act requires employers to take care of the
health and safety of their employees and other affected person, as far as is reasonably
practicable. This term requires employers to assess the risks to health and the
costs of alleviating them, and only if the latter seriously outweighs the former,
can their responsibility be discharged.
| Regulations
made under this Act include Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations
1977 which require and encourage recognised trade union (and now also 'appointed')
representatives to be consulted over all health and safety matters. |
http://www.hsebooks.co.uk/homepage.html
HSE Publications Online |
|
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 1994 (consolidated
1998) require employers to control exposure of substances to workers by a process
of assessment followed by control at source and monitoring and health surveillance.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 derive from EU directives.
The most important part of the so-called 'six-pack' requires employers to risk
assess all aspects of work before deciding on control arrangements based on methods
of prevention. Only competent persons can assess health and safety risk. There
is no statutory requirement for environmental risk assessment, although competent
persons are required to assess in an Environmental management system.
The Health and Safety Executive and local authorities inspect premises for compliance
with H&S law.
Air:
Clean Air Act 1993
This Act replaces the Clean
Air Acts from the 1950s. Part 1 prohibits the emission of dark smoke from chimneys.
Part 2 controls smoke, grit, dust and fumes from any furnace or industrial boiler.
Safety levels for emission to air of certain metals, thallium, arsenic and nickel,
were raised by the HMIP in March 1996 by between 80 and 40,000 times. This accommodated
releases from cement factories burning chemical wastes but is doubtful whether
EU Directive 92/9 intended to accommodate these
changes to national guidance values.
Water:
Water Acts 1991
| The
Water Resources Act 1991 seeks to maintain and improve the quality of controlled
waters - lakes, rivers, ponds, groundwater and territorial seas. Water quality
objectives may also be set under the Act to achieve the purposes of Directive
78/659, which aims to protect or improve fresh waters which could support indigenous
fish. The Directive lists the physical and chemical parameters that the UK follows
in the Act. They include temperature, dissolved oxygen, Ph, suspended solids,
BOD, phosphorus, nitrates, phenolic substances,
ammonia, zinc, and copper. |
In the UK The convention for drain colours is:
Foul water drain = Red
Surface water = Blue |
|
You cannot allow polluting matter or solid waste to enter controlled
waters. You cannot discharge anything other than rainwater to surface water
drains, without the consent of the EA. Companies wishing to discharge effluent
to sewer must obtain and pay for a consent from the local sewage undertaker, according
to the Water Industry Act 1991. This Act has been amended under the Environment
Act placing duties on water undertakers to promote the efficient use of water
by its customers, and on sewage undertakers to provide first time sewerage connection.
Regulations made under these Water Acts include the Water Supply (Water Quality)
Regulations 1989 & 1991 that incorporate the standards of EU Directives, specifying
the "wholesomeness" of water supplies. Schedule 2 of the Regulation lists the
parameters, and amounts, that are considered. These include colour, turbidity,
odour, taste, temperature, hydrogen, sulphate, magnesium, sodium, potassium, nitrogen,
oxygen, organic carbon, surfactants, phenolics, aluminium, oils, manganese, silver,
lead, selenium, pesticides, coliform , conductivity, barium and boron, as well
as alkalinity and hardness.
The various Surface Waters Regulations 1989 & 1994 implement Directive 75/440
and 76/464 . They
also implement other Directives - 82/176 (mercury and compounds), 83/513 (cadmium
and compounds), 84/491 (hexachlorocyclohexane), 86/280 (carbon tetrachloride,
DDT, and pentachlorophenol). The regulations classify controlled waters into three
categories, according to the presence of these substances.
The regulations specify criteria to determine the suitability of
inland waters for abstraction by water undertakers for supply, and treatment before
supply, for public use in accordance with the Water Supply Regulations.
In order to prevent rather than cure, the Environmental Protection (Prescribed
Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991 set out a list of prescribed substances
that require close monitoring and control before they can be discharged to water.
This is popularly called the "Red List" (introduced
in 1989). Pollution from individual discharges is controlled by a system of "consents
to discharge" which are determined and issues by the Environment Agency.
| Draft
regulations were issued in 1996 to cover the system of consents for discharges
to water. These arise from changes brought by the Environment Act 1995 to improve
the consistency of environmental protection requirements. The new regulations
set out the detailed arrangements for the procedures governing applications for
consents, and appeals. |
Good Summary of UK Environmental Law on Water.
Follow “Legislation” |
|
Environment
Act 1995
The Act addresses the three
areas of land, air and waste.
Land
| Contaminated
Land. Contaminated land is land to which significant harm is being done or could
be done, or may cause pollution of controlled waters Local authorities have to
decide these areas, with due regard to guidance issued by the EA. The guidance
proposes limits on the definition of contaminated land and significant harm. It
sets out a risk assessment based on different levels of risk for different sorts
of human health. The EA will play an active role in the clean-up of the most contaminated
sites - known as Special Sites. |
|
Air
Air Quality Strategy (AQS). The Act introduces a strategy based on clear identifiable
goals in three broad areas for action. For each of nine pollutants two levels
are set to protect human health or the environment. The alert threshold requires
an immediate response to prevent damage, while the guideline level is a long term
goal which is considered a safe level that can be achieved with new plant. These
levels are set along with a timetable for achievement. Air Quality Management
Areas, decided and regulated by local authorities, will implement these standards.
The Act gives powers to local authorities to control air quality in these areas.
Seventeen revised guidance notes on industrial air pollution covering prescribed
processes which emit VOCs were issued in 1996 for consultation. The proposed changes
will postpone the planned 5000 tonnes reduction in emissions from smaller plants
until 2007. Low solvent coatings have not become available as fast as anticipated
and there is a high marginal cost of alternatives.
Waste
The National Waste Strategy(NWS) is designed to replace plans under the Environmental
Act and requires the government to produce plans for waste management in line
with the EU directive. The strategy has three key objectives: to reduce the amount
of waste that society produces; to make the best use of the waste that is produced;
and to choose waste management practices which minimise the risks to health or
the environment. The mechanism for achieving these is waste hierarchy of reduction,
re-use, recovery, and disposal as spelt out in the Department of Environment's
"Making Waste Work”
The
targets are to:
- Reduce the proportion of
controlled waste going to landfill to 60% by 2005
- Recover 40% of municipal
waste by 2005
- Set a target for overall
waste reduction by the end of 1998.
Here the methods of environment
management systems are being introduced into the legal apparatus. Taxes have also
been introduced to try to meet the targets. The Landfill Tax puts £2 per tonne
for "inactive" waste and £7 per tonne for all others. The Waste Clearance Scheme
1996 helps clarify what is "inactive", which is waste that does not decay or have
a potential to pollute groundwater or contaminate land. |
The
following wastes can often be Special Wastes: batteries, sodium lights, oils and
oil filters, oily condensate from compressed air installations, paint and ink,
chemical wastes, solvents and other similar waste fluids.
Materials contaminated with Special Wastes become Special Wastes themselves. Thus,
packaging, cleaning rags, wipers, absorbent materials used for cleaning up spills
could all be classified as Special Wastes. |
|
Specific
regulations made under this Act include the Special Waste
Regulations 1996 which implements the EU Directive on Hazardous
Waste. Hazardous waste characteristics are very similar to
special waste and often refer to wastes which are transported
across national boundaries and thus subject to international
conventions (International Environmental law). The regulations
lay down procedures to be followed by those who handle special
waste. Special waste is waste that is dangerous or difficult
to handle, transport or treat so that special provisions are
needed if human life is not to be threatened. The regulations
will increase the amount of waste currently treated as special,
deregulate pre-notification requirements for special movements
and introduce fees for notifications.
For
more: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/special/index.htm
The Pollution Prevention
and Control Act 1999 enables new regulations to : 1. Implement the requirements
of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive
2. Extend integrated control to around 5,000 extra industrial installations
3. Take a far wider range of environmental impacts into account such as noise,
use of raw materials, accident prevention, site restoration and energy efficiency
4. Provide a consistent framework for the regulation of LAPC installations not
covered by the Directive.
The new regime
will maintain the current systems' central concept of a flexible, case by case
approach to regulation which balances cost with environmental benefit.
Future
Directions - Producer Responsibility
'Producer Responsibility'
aims to reduce the environmental impacts of products at all stages of their life
cycle and place the onus of the real environmental costs of the production and
disposal of products on the producer.
It will be the
responsibility of the producer to design products with the
environmental impacts considered at all stages, including
end of life recovery. The waste hierarchy
helps producers reduce impacts of disposal, including production
waste as well as final product disposal. Reprocessing 'closes
the loop' from raw material use to end of life
disposal.
In 1993 the UK Government issued a Producer Responsibility
Challenge to certain sectors to recycle and recover post consumer
products. Motor vehicles and their batteries, electronic and
other electrical goods, newspapers and packaging are all under
inspection.
Packaging
The
first law introduced under this principle is 'Producer Responsibility
Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997'. Producer
responsibility for packaging waste shifts the way goods are
produced. This responsibility will spread through all waste
streams and into other areas of business.
The regulations mark a change in environmental legislation
by focusing on the consumption and use of resources rather
than dealing with emissions and pollution.
The packaging regulations aim to:
- divert
packaging from the waste stream by improving the way
packaging is produced and used.
- encourage
producers of packaging to reduce, re-use, recycle
and recover the packaging they handle.
|
Specialists in Global Environmental Packaging & Product
Stewardship Requirements |
|
The
more packaging your company handles, the more packaging waste your company will
need to recover and recycle. Companies are therefore encouraged to reconsider
their supply of packaging by reducing or re-using packaging.
Motor
Vehicles
The End of Life Vehicles (ELV)
Directive (2000/53/EC), in force October 2000, sets standards
for the scrapping of End of Life Vehicles. The Directive requires
manufacturers to be liable for the disposal of all new cars
from July 2002 and for old cars from January 2007. Manufacturers
must meet recycling targets of 85% of all ELVs by January
2006, and 95% by January 2015. The
Directive also makes sure that damaging substances, like lead,
cadmium and mercury, are not dumped but recycled. The motor
industry reckons this will involve nearly 2 million cars at
a cost of £200 million.
The Directive should have been transposed
into UK law by April 2002 and unless the UK does so by the
end of 2002, EU legal action will follow and the UK could
face a hefty daily fine.
For latest from DTI, check out http://www.dti.gov.uk/environment/consultations/elv.htm.
|
Electronics
The
European Union (EU) has drafted legislation on Waste
from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (the WEEE Directive)
based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility.
WEEE requires manufacturers to improve the design of
their products in order to avoid the generation of waste
and to facilitate the recovery and disposal of electronic
scrap. This can be achieved through the phase out of
hazardous materials, as well as the development of efficient
systems of collection, re-use and recycling.
|
Check
out Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
http://www.svtc.org/
Explains US opposition to WEEE |
|
Producers
will have a financial incentive to design their products with
less hazardous and more recyclable materials. This change
in the market economics - in effect the internalization of
costs that are currently passed off to the general public
- will encourage the design of products for repair, upgrade,
re-use, dismantling and safer recycling. However, there is
opposition to both from industry, particularly in the US.
It is clear that environmental regulations in the UK will not be made in the future
without reference to EU Directives - and US concerns.
Find the regulations that may apply to your workplace - go to UK Environment Agency's
Netregs Web Page, where you can also check out
forthcoming legislation.
Waste Incineration
The Waste Incineration (England and Wales)
Regulations 2002 were introduced in late 2002 to enact the
Waste Incineration Directive 2000/87/EC. These introduce more
stringent operating conditions and set minimum technical requirements
for waste incineration and co-incineration. The Regulations
cover most waste incineration and co-incineration plants.
The main aim is to prevent and limit negative environmental
impacts of emissions to air, soil, surface and ground-water,
and possible risks to human health, from the incineration
and co-incineration of waste.
For more see http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/wasteincin/index.htm
(c)Environment Agency (with permission)
Red List
This list was introduced in 1989 and remains, despite the presence of other
amber, green and grey lists from Europe and elsewhere.
Enforcing authorities must be convinced that 'strict environmental quality
standards are being met and maintained in receiving waters', before giving any
organisation "discharge consents" for any of the dangerous substances
on this list.
|
Substance |
Comments |
|
Mercury and its compounds |
Fungicides, mostly banned. |
|
Cadmium and its compounds |
Plating processes |
|
Gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane |
Lindane insecticide |
|
DDT |
Banned insecticide |
|
Pentachlorophenol |
Wood Preservative |
|
Hexachlorobenzene |
Fungicide for seed treatment |
|
Hexachlorobutadiene |
Pesticide |
|
Aldrin |
Banned insecticide |
|
Dieldrin |
Banned insecticide |
|
Endrin |
Banned insecticide |
|
Dichlorvos (name "Vapona") |
Household insecticide common |
|
1,2-Dichloroethane (called Ethylene Dichloride trichlorobenzene) |
Insecticidal Fumigant, also |
|
Atrazine |
Total weedkiller |
|
Simazine |
Total weedkiller |
|
tributyltin compounds |
Marine anti-fouling biocide |
|
trifluralin |
Soil acting weedkiller |
|
Fenitrothion |
Organophosphate insecticide |
|
Azinphos-methyl |
Organophosphate insecticide |
|
Malathion |
Insecticide popular against lice |
|
Endosulphan |
Organochlorine insecticide |
|
