European emission limit plans “burdensome”

Speaking to letsrecycle.com yesterday (March 11), a spokesman for FEAD claimed that plans for the sector to be covered by the same 'European Safety Net' for emissions as other industries such as chemical plants were not necessary.

“We consider the European Safety Net for all sectors as too burdensome, especially in the current economic and financial climate,” he said.

The spokesman emphasised that minimum emissions standards for waste incineration and co-incineration were already in place under the Waste Incineration Directive, which, he said, had been a success.

“If there is a European Safety Net for incineration, it should be the same level as the European Safety Net already set under the WID,” he explained.

And, he stressed that any changes to the system of emissions controls for waste incinerators should not affect the “spirit” and “material content” of those enforced under the WID.

Under the European Commission proposals that were supported by MEPs, the current European emissions regulation system would be overhauled, with the revision of seven separate directives on emissions, including the WID and the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive, into a single Directive on Industrial Emissions.

Following yesterday's first reading in the European Parliament, the plans will now head to the Council of Ministers where representatives from all the EU's 27 member states will seek to agree on a common position.

Rapporteur

The plans for a 'European Safety Net' were introduced to the Parliament by German Liberal MEP, Holger Krahmer, who, as rapporteur for the revised IPPC Directive, is responsible for guiding the plans through the European Parliamentary system.

“The minimum emission standards we have adopted by introducing the European Safety Net is the tool we need to reduce industrial emissions effectively,” Mr Krahmer explained.

“The existing legislation is largely neglected by the Member States. Now it has a chance to succeed. This will ensure better environmental protection and a level playing field for industry,” he added.

BATs

Under the current WID system, which was introduced across Europe in 2000, emissions limits values for waste incinerators have been developed on the basis of plant operators applying best available techniques (BATs).

However, yesterday, MEPs said that the widespread use of derogations and exemptions by EU member states to mean that BATs were not always applied made it necessary to introduce the European Safety Net with requirements that would be decided under the Parliament's committee or “comitology” procedure.

And, MEPs' support for the plan was welcomed by green campaigning group, the European Environmental Bureau, whose industrial policy officer, Christian Schaible, said: “This vote represents a victory for European's health and environment.”

“There were some pretty scary amendments proposed in the 11th hour that, if passed, would have ultimately cost lives. Fortunately, the worst of the amendments were fought off by MEPs, who responded to solid evidence that we need to prevent and reduce pollution, especially from large combustion plants,” he added.