BAT as a main tool for minimisation of the negative impact of industrial activities

Aivi SissaTallinn – Estonia

27 – 28 March 2008

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Industrial production processes account for a considerable share of the overall pollution in Europe

Need for prevention and control of pollution from various industrial

sources throughout the EU

IPPC Directive

BREFs

Best Available Techniques (BAT)

BAT-based permit or general binding rules

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IPPC and other vertical Directives

• Vertical Directives (e.g. LCP, SED and WI):Set minimum requirements for pollutants in different industries

• BAT associated emission levels:Often go beyond those requirements

• The implementation of all these Directives, and therefore, conformity, is the responsibility of the individual MS

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• Whole environmental performance of the plant

• Process integrated, not only end-of-pipe techniques

• Efficiency integrated in the entire production process

Integrated approach on BAT

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Integrated approach

Waste gas

Land/soil

Waste water

Energy efficiency

Raw materials + auxiliaries(e.g. water, O2, chemicals)

Waste

Noise

Process efficiency

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Implementing BAT

• Achieve a high level of protection of the environment as a whole

• Promote innovation in Europe

• Contribute to European technological and economic development

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Implementing BAT

• Create a more level playing field in Europe and redress technological imbalances

• Promote the worldwide dissemination of techniques used in the EU

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BAT under IPPC Article 2(11)

• ‘best’ = most effective in achieving a high general level of protection of the environment as a whole

• ‘available’ = developed on a scale which allows implementation in the relevant industrial sector, under economically and technically viable conditions, considering the costs and advantages……...…

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BAT under IPPC Article 2(11)

• ‘techniques’ = both the technology used and the way in which the installation is designed, built, maintained, operated and decommissioned.

• in determining BAT, special consideration should be given to the items listed in Annex IV

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Annex IV in summary

• Waste minimisation (e.g. prevention, recycling, reuse, recovery)

• Use of less hazardous substances (e.g. substitution)

• Comparability of processes• Efficient use of resources and energy• Preventing accidents and consequential

environmental impacts• …

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Determination of BAT in BREFs

Identify the key environmental issues for

the sector

Examine relevant techniques to address

key issues

Identify the best environmental

performance levels

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Determination of BAT in BREFs

Examine the conditions under which

these performance levels were achieved

Select BAT and the associated emission

and/or consumption levels for the sector

in a general sense

reduce VOC emissions to 10 – 50 mgC/Nm3 by

using techniques aa + bb + cc

(see Section x.y.z)

Elements in a ’good’ BAT conclusion

BAT is to:

Objective/environmental

benefit

BAT associated emission level

Reference to the section(s) where the technique(s) is/are described

Technique(s) to satisfythe objective and meetthe associated emission level

Examples:Minimise water consumptionOptimise energy consumptionPrevent soil contaminationMinimise the use of raw materialsReduce COD in the water effluents….

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From BAT to permit conditions

Competent authorities responsible for issuing permits are required to take account of BAT when determining the conditions of the permits

In this sense, BAT are a reference point against which to judge the performance of:

• an existing installation or • a proposal for a new installation

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From BAT to permit conditions

• … permit conditions must, without prejudice to compliance with environmental quality standards, be based on the best available techniques, without prescribing the use of any technique or specific technology, but– taking into account the technical characteristics of

the installation concerned– its geographical location; and– the local environmental conditions.

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From BAT to permit conditions

BAT (in BREFs)

BAT-based permit or General Binding Rules

Local considerations+

Legally binding

Descriptive

MS right to choose how

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QUESTIONS?