Deadline draws near for incineration permit applications
The UK Environment Agency has reminded all industrial operators who want to continue to burn waste after the end of this month that they must apply for a new permit before 31 March 2005.
The UK Environment Agency has reminded all industrial operators who want to continue to burn waste after the end of this month that they must apply for a new permit before 31 March 2005.
Applications for a new permit or a variation to an existing permit or authorisation must be made to Environment Agency or local authority.
The Waste Incineration Directive (WID) will take effect from the 27 December 2005. As a result, if an operator wishes to burn waste up to and after that date the application must demonstrate that the plant will, from 28 December 2005, meet all the requirements of the tough new regulations. Even If an operator does not wish to burn waste after 28 December 2005 they still need to make an application, stating this is the case.
Incinerators and other plants burning waste will now need to meet new even tougher environmental standards if they are to be granted a permit. These include:
• Tighter limits on the level of emissions, including substantial reductions in the level of sulphur dioxide, dust emissions and a 10-fold reduction in the emission limit for dioxins;
• New requirements to monitor for additional pollutants;
• New measures that require the plant to stop burning waste if emission levels rise above the required level.
'It is very important that operators get their applications in as soon as possible, so that we can make sure that, as long as they meet the new standards, they can continue to operate from 28 December 2005. Operators that fail to apply by the end of March 2005 will be considered to be operating illegally and therefore could be prosecuted or shut down,' said Dr Martin Bigg, head of industry regulation at the Environment Agency.
Operators can seek guidance on whether to Directive applies to them or not from the websites of Defra and the Environment Agency. Additionally, there is an application form on the Environment Agency website that guides applicants through the information they are required to submit for the permitting process.