Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
If your activities create levels of dust and odour that could cause damage to property, or disturbance to the surrounding community, your local council's environmental health department can:
Noise, odour and all nuisances
If your process is regulated under the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) regime, your permit may require you to control emissions of:
Pollution prevention and control permits
Check if you carry out activities that require a PPC permit controlling your emissions to air.
Does your business require a pollution prevention and control permit?
Subject to certain exemptions, it is an offence to cause or permit the emission of dark smoke from a chimney or bonfire.
Controls have been introduced to limit the sulphur content of fuels. You must not use gas oil with a sulphur content exceeding 0.1% by mass.
You must not use heavy fuel oil with a sulphur content exceeding 1% by mass. This is particularly relevant if you have stocks of stand-by fuel that can remain unchanged for considerable periods of time. If you operate pre-1987 combustion plant you can apply for a Sulphur Content of Liquid Fuels Permit from your local council in Northern Ireland or SEPA in Scotland.
If your business produces, uses or handles fluorinated gases, or products that contain fluorinated gases, you must comply with the requirements of the EU Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation. The regulation covers gases such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride that are used in equipment, machinery and other products. Its controls relate to a number of areas including:
For further information, you should read guidance produced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
GOV.UK: Flourinated greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances
SEPA Special Waste Consignment Notes – updated position, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is now accepting special waste consignment notes (SWCNs) by email only.
DAERA Waste Policy Tracker, The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has published a Waste policy tracker to stay informed of waste policy developments.
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