Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
Businesses that manufacture, assemble or service machinery or electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) may emit dust, fumes and gases which cause air pollution.
If your business uses solvents, see our guidance on solvent emissions.
If your business has a permit, licence or registered exemption you must comply with its conditions. If you do not comply with conditions you can be fined or sent to prison.
Your permit, licence or exemption may have conditions that control the quantity and concentration of your emissions of:
Pollution prevention and control permits
Your machinery or EEE business may produce:
If your activities create levels of dust or odour that disturbs your neighbours, your local council can issue you with an abatement notice that:
Anyone affected by the nuisance, such as your neighbours, can apply to the court in Northern Ireland or the sheriff in Scotland to issue you with an abatement notice. You can be fined if you do not comply with an abatement notice, and your local authority can take steps to stop the nuisance and charge you for its costs.
For further information on nuisance, see our guidance on noise, odour and other nuisances.
You must not emit dark smoke from:
Smoke is considered 'dark' if it has a shade of two or darker on the Ringlemann chart. You can find the Ringelmann chart in British Standard BS2742C.
BSI British Standards: BS 2742C 1957 Ringelmann chart
For further information, see our guidance on air pollution from furnaces, boilers and bonfires.
You must check the content of sulphur in your petroleum-based fuels, particularly any standby fuel you have stored for a long period of time. You must not use:
There are some exceptions to this restriction. For further information on the restrictions, contact your environmental regulator.
Contact your environmental regulator
Many ODS are banned. Ozone depleting substances (ODS) include:
Fluorinated gases (F-gases) are powerful greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and climate change.
If your business uses or handles ODS or F-gases read our guidance on ozone depleting substances and fluorinated gases.
Refrigeration and air conditioning
Groundwater in Northern Ireland, DAERA have produced a leaflet to raise awareness about this untapped resource
EU Exit, EU Exit useful information
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