Consultation on modernising environmental permitting for industry

Schedule 13 small waste incineration plant (SWIPs) in England must meet mandatory minimum requirements on emissions to air and water set out in Schedule 13 of the EPRs (via Chapter IV and Annex VI of the IED), but do not have to apply BAT (except where they are directly associated to a separate Part A or Part B activity). SWIP emission limits have therefore not been updated since 2010. This differs from the position in Wales, where SWIPs also fall under Schedule 8 of the EPRs and must apply BAT for emissions to air. 

Switching from mandatory minimum requirements to applying BAT and integrated pollution control would allow currently outdated emission standards to be updated, simplifying regulation, reducing pollution and removing the disparity between regulation of SWIPs and larger waste incinerators which have tighter standards in place.