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Division 1.1 Overall environmental performance

United Kingdom

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

BAT 1. In order to improve the overall environmental performance, BAT is to implement and adhere to an environmental management system (EMS) that incorporates all of the following features:

  1. I..

    commitment of the management, including senior management;

  2. II..

    definition, by the management, of an environmental policy that includes the continuous improvement of the environmental performance of the installation;

  3. III..

    planning and establishing the necessary procedures, objectives and targets, in conjunction with financial planning and investment;

  4. IV..

    implementation of procedures paying particular attention to:

    1. (a)

      structure and responsibility,

    2. (b)

      recruitment, training, awareness and competence,

    3. (c)

      communication,

    4. (d)

      employee involvement,

    5. (e)

      documentation,

    6. (f)

      effective process control,

    7. (g)

      maintenance programmes,

    8. (h)

      emergency preparedness and response,

    9. (i)

      safeguarding compliance with environmental legislation;

  5. V..

    checking performance and taking corrective action, paying particular attention to:

    1. (a)

      monitoring and measurement (see also the JRC Reference Report on Monitoring of emissions to air and water from IED installations – ROM),

    2. (b)

      corrective and preventive action,

    3. (c)

      maintenance of records,

    4. (d)

      independent (where practicable) internal or external auditing in order to determine whether or not the EMS conforms to planned arrangements and has been properly implemented and maintained;

  6. VI..

    review, by senior management, of the EMS and its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness;

  7. VII..

    following the development of cleaner technologies;

  8. VIII..

    consideration for the environmental impacts from the eventual decommissioning of the plant at the stage of designing a new plant, and throughout its operating life;

  9. IX..

    application of sectoral benchmarking on a regular basis;

  10. X..

    waste stream management (see BAT 2);

  11. XI..

    an inventory of waste water and waste gas streams (see BAT 3);

  12. XII..

    residues management plan (see description in Section 6.5);

  13. XIII..

    accident management plan (see description in Section 6.5);

  14. XIV..

    odour management plan (see BAT 12);

  15. XV..

    noise and vibration management plan (see BAT 17).

BAT 2. In order to improve the overall environmental performance of the plant, BAT is to use all of the techniques given below.

Sorting techniques are described in Section 6.4
TechniqueDescription
a.Set up and implement waste characterisation and pre-acceptance proceduresThese procedures aim to ensure the technical (and legal) suitability of waste treatment operations for a particular waste prior to the arrival of the waste at the plant. They include procedures to collect information about the waste input and may include waste sampling and characterisation to achieve sufficient knowledge of the waste composition. Waste pre-acceptance procedures are risk-based considering, for example, the hazardous properties of the waste, the risks posed by the waste in terms of process safety, occupational safety and environmental impact, as well as the information provided by the previous waste holder(s).
b.Set up and implement waste acceptance proceduresAcceptance procedures aim to confirm the characteristics of the waste, as identified in the pre-acceptance stage. These procedures define the elements to be verified upon the arrival of the waste at the plant as well as the waste acceptance and rejection criteria. They may include waste sampling, inspection and analysis. Waste acceptance procedures are risk-based considering, for example, the hazardous properties of the waste, the risks posed by the waste in terms of process safety, occupational safety and environmental impact, as well as the information provided by the previous waste holder(s).
c.Set up and implement a waste tracking system and inventoryA waste tracking system and inventory aim to track the location and quantity of waste in the plant. It holds all the information generated during waste pre-acceptance procedures (e.g. date of arrival at the plant and unique reference number of the waste, information on the previous waste holder(s), pre-acceptance and acceptance analysis results, intended treatment route, nature and quantity of the waste held on site including all identified hazards), acceptance, storage, treatment and/or transfer off site. The waste tracking system is risk-based considering, for example, the hazardous properties of the waste, the risks posed by the waste in terms of process safety, occupational safety and environmental impact, as well as the information provided by the previous waste holder(s).
d.Set up and implement an output quality management systemThis technique involves setting up and implementing an output quality management system, so as to ensure that the output of the waste treatment is in line with the expectations, using for example existing EN standards. This management system also allows the performance of the waste treatment to be monitored and optimised, and for this purpose may include a material flow analysis of relevant components throughout the waste treatment. The use of a material flow analysis is risk-based considering, for example, the hazardous properties of the waste, the risks posed by the waste in terms of process safety, occupational safety and environmental impact, as well as the information provided by the previous waste holder(s).
e.Ensure waste segregationWaste is kept separated depending on its properties in order to enable easier and environmentally safer storage and treatment. Waste segregation relies on the physical separation of waste and on procedures that identify when and where wastes are stored.
f.Ensure waste compatibility prior to mixing or blending of wasteCompatibility is ensured by a set of verification measures and tests in order to detect any unwanted and/or potentially dangerous chemical reactions between wastes (e.g. polymerisation, gas evolution, exothermal reaction, decomposition, crystallisation, precipitation) when mixing, blending or carrying out other treatment operations. The compatibility tests are risk-based considering, for example, the hazardous properties of the waste, the risks posed by the waste in terms of process safety, occupational safety and environmental impact, as well as the information provided by the previous waste holder(s).
g.Sort incoming solid waste

Sorting of incoming solid wastef1 aims to prevent unwanted material from entering subsequent waste treatment process(es). It may include:

  • manual separation by means of visual examinations;

  • ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals or all-metals separation;

  • optical separation, e.g. by near-infrared spectroscopy or X-ray systems;

  • density separation, e.g. by air classification, sink-float tanks, vibration tables;

  • size separation by screening/sieving.

BAT 3. In order to facilitate the reduction of emissions to water and air, BAT is to establish and to maintain an inventory of waste water and waste gas streams, as part of the environmental management system (see BAT 1), that incorporates all of the following features:

  1. (i)

    information about the characteristics of the waste to be treated and the waste treatment processes, including:

    1. (a)

      simplified process flow sheets that show the origin of the emissions;

    2. (b)

      descriptions of process-integrated techniques and waste water/waste gas treatment at source including their performances;

  2. (ii)

    information about the characteristics of the waste water streams, such as:

    1. (a)

      average values and variability of flow, pH, temperature, and conductivity;

    2. (b)

      average concentration and load values of relevant substances and their variability (e.g. COD/TOC, nitrogen species, phosphorus, metals, priority substances/micropollutants);

    3. (c)

      data on bioeliminability (e.g. BOD, BOD to COD ratio, Zahn-Wellens test, biological inhibition potential (e.g. inhibition of activated sludge)) (see BAT 52);

  3. (iii)

    information about the characteristics of the waste gas streams, such as:

    1. (a)

      average values and variability of flow and temperature;

    2. (b)

      average concentration and load values of relevant substances and their variability (e.g. organic compounds, POPs such as PCBs);

    3. (c)

      flammability, lower and higher explosive limits, reactivity;

    4. (d)

      presence of other substances that may affect the waste gas treatment system or plant safety (e.g. oxygen, nitrogen, water vapour, dust).

BAT 4. In order to reduce the environmental risk associated with the storage of waste, BAT is to use all of the techniques given below.

TechniqueDescriptionApplicability
a.Optimised storage location

This includes techniques such as:

  • the storage is located as far as technically and economically possible from sensitive receptors, watercourses, etc.;

  • the storage is located in such a way so as to eliminate or minimise the unnecessary handling of wastes within the plant (e.g. the same wastes are handled twice or more or the transport distances on site are unnecessarily long).

Generally applicable to new plants.
b.Adequate storage capacity

Measures are taken to avoid accumulation of waste, such as:

  • the maximum waste storage capacity is clearly established and not exceeded taking into account the characteristics of the wastes (e.g. regarding the risk of fire) and the treatment capacity;

  • the quantity of waste stored is regularly monitored against the maximum allowed storage capacity;

  • the maximum residence time of waste is clearly established.

Generally applicable.
c.Safe storage operation

This includes measures such as:

  • equipment used for loading, unloading and storing waste is clearly documented and labelled;

  • wastes known to be sensitive to heat, light, air, water, etc. are protected from such ambient conditions;

  • containers and drums are fit for purpose and stored securely.

d.Separate area for storage and handling of packaged hazardous wasteWhen relevant, a dedicated area is used for storage and handling of packaged hazardous waste.

BAT 5. In order to reduce the environmental risk associated with the handling and transfer of waste, BAT is to set up and implement handling and transfer procedures.

  1. Applicability
  2. Applicability
  3. Description

Annotations

Footnotes

f1

Sorting techniques are described in Section 6.4