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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Waste Incineration (Scotland) Regulations 2003 came
into force on 1 April 2003. The regulations, along with
associated Directions to the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency (
SEPA), ensure strict controls are
applied to almost all installations that incinerate or
co-incinerate waste. The new regulations will be applied
and enforced by
SEPA.
New waste incineration installations must comply with
the new regulatory controls before being put into
operation. Existing waste incineration installations, as
defined in the Regulations, must comply by 28 December
2005.
The Regulations do not create a new permitting regime,
but introduce new requirements under the existing Pollution
Prevention and Control (
PPC) regime and the Environmental
Protection Act 1990 (
EPA). Most waste incinerators and
co-incinerators that are not part of another Part A process
now fall within Section 5.1 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the
Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations
2000 (the
PPC Regulations), as amended. Some
excluded installations will be regulated as Part B
activities, and others under Waste Management
Licensing.
The Regulations require operators of waste incineration
installations to apply for a permit (or a variation of
their existing authorisation or permit) in good time to
ensure technical compliance by the required dates. Existing
waste incineration installations that fall under Section
5.1 had a 'relevant period' during which they had to apply
for a
PPC permit of 1 January to 31 March
2005. This is a change from the original
PPC timetable and should assist both
operators and regulators in meeting the deadline for
compliance. Operators of existing waste incineration
installations that do not fall within the new Section 5.1
are given options about when they can apply for a permit or
variation. In all cases, waste incineration installations
must be subject to a permit or authorisation that complies
with the requirements of the new regime by 28 December
2005.
The technical requirements of the new regime are based
on the European Commission Waste Incineration Directive
(2000/76/
EC). These have been given effect
through Directions to
SEPA. The key technical requirements
include:
- specified operating conditions, including gas
temperatures and residence times;
- setting emission limit values for a range of
parameters to air and water including dioxins;
- emission monitoring requirements.
Some derogations from technical requirements are
available.
Existing incineration and co-incineration plants that
are subject to the requirements of
WID must be compliant by
28 December 2005. Applicants must
recognise that time is needed by
SEPA to determine applications and to
discuss upgrade requirements with applicants, followed by
time for the upgrading to be carried out before 28 December
2005. No upgrade programme is allowed after December 2005.
It is recommended that applicants approach
SEPA allowing plenty of time.
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