Pollution and Prevention Control (Scotland) Regulations
A major advance in pollution control from industrial processes was made by the introduction of the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (please note there has been an number of amendments to the orginal regulations), commonly referred to as the PPC Regulations. PPC controls, which implemented the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive, introduced a more consistent and integrated approach to environmental protection to ensure that activities that may have a significant impact on the environment were strictly regulated. The PPC Regulations are designed to eliminate or minimise emissions to air, water and land and extend pollution controls to previously unregulated sectors.
The PPC Regulations cover the following activities:
- Energy industries, such as power stations and refineries
- Production and processing of metals
- Mineral industries, including glass manufacture and cement production
- Chemical industries, including pharmaceutical production
- Waste management, including incineration and landfills
- Paper and pulp manufacturing
- Textile treatments
- Timber activities
- Food and drink
- Pig and poultry farming
SEPA regulates industrial facilities falling within the scope of PPC. Operators are required to demonstrate to SEPA that they will adhere to the general principles of PPC which include:
- Using "Best Available Techniques", which balance the benefits to the environment against the costs to the operator, to prevent or minimise pollution
- Minimising waste produced by the process, and recycling waste where possible
- Reducing the amount of energy used
- Preventing accidents.
- Restoring the site once operations cease
- Minimising heat and noise emissions.
The PPC regime is also used as a vehicle for implementing other European Directives, e.g. covering Solvent Emissions, Waste Incineration and Large Combustion Plants.