The regulations, which came into force on December 28, 2002, apply the requirements of the European Waste Incineration Directive 2000, which restricts emissions levels and conditions at waste incineration and co-incineration plants.
Under the regulations, all permits for new waste incinerators must fit the directive's requirements. Plants that are already operating must comply by December 28, 2005, at the latest.
Confident
The last major change to UK emissions legislation in 1996 forced 30 incinerators to close because they could not comply. But industry experts are confident that plant operators will cope with the changes this time round.
Debbie Dorkin, policy executive of the Environmental Services Association, said: “The industry is a lot more prepared this time. It has been working with the Environment Agency for the whole of 2002 and all the operators are doing the necessary to ensure they are compliant.”
Friends of the Earth, which campaigns against incinerators, welcomed the controls. FoE waste campaigner Karine Pellaumail said: “We are happy with these conditions for existing incinerators. They are quite a lot tighter than previously and we think they're going the right way.”
The Waste Incineration Directive has increased air emissions limits on many substances and introduced limits on new substances such as dioxins and furans. The directive also covers residues, monitoring methods and waste delivery.
Guide
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has promised to release a practical guide to the regulations by the end of March 2003.
A DEFRA spokesman said: “This secondary legislation is solely about implementing the tight controls on emissions from incinerators to which the UK has signed up through the passage of the Waste Incineration Directive.
“These controls embody what was already accepted and largely applied in the UK as good practice.”
There are 14 incinerators currently operating in the UK and six more due to start up by the end of 2005.
To view the directive, regulations and directions, visit: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/wasteincin/index.htm
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