S.L. 549.81 Art. 7Control of emissions.

(1) Waste gases from waste incineration plants and waste co-incineration plants shall be discharged in a controlled way by means of a stack the height of which is calculated in such a way as to safeguard human health and the environment.

(2) (a) Emissions into air from waste incineration plants and waste co-incineration plants shall not exceed the emission limit values set out in Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 or determined in accordance with Schedule 3.

(b) If in a waste co-incineration plant more than 40% of the resulting heat release comes from hazardous waste, or the plant co-incinerates untreated mixed municipal waste, the emission limit values set out in Schedule 2 shall apply.

(3) Discharges to the aquatic environment of waste water resulting from the cleaning of waste gases shall be limited as far as practicable and the concentrations of polluting substances shall not exceed the emission limit values set out in Schedule 4.

(4) (a) The emission limit values shall apply at the point where waste waters from the cleaning of waste gases are discharged from the waste incineration plant or waste co-incineration plant.

(b) When waste waters from the cleaning of waste gases are treated outside the waste incineration plant or waste co-incineration plant at a treatment plant intended only for the treatment of this sort of waste water, the emission limit values set out in Schedule 4 shall be applied at the point where the waste waters leave the treatment plant. Where the waste water from the cleaning of waste gases is treated collectively with other sources of waste water, either on site or off site, the operator shall make the appropriate mass balance calculations, using the results of the measurements set out in point 3 of Schedule 5 in order to determine the emission levels in the final waste water discharge that can be attributed to the waste water arising from the cleaning of waste gases.

(c) Under no circumstances shall dilution of waste water take place for the purpose of complying with the emission limit values set out in Schedule 4.

(5) (a) Waste incineration plant sites and waste co-incineration plant sites, including associated storage areas for waste, shall be designed and operated in such a way as to prevent the unauthorised and accidental release of any polluting substances into soil, surface water and groundwater.

(b) Storage capacity shall be provided for contaminated rainwater run-off from the waste incineration plant site or waste co-incineration plant site or for contaminated water arising from spillage or fire-fighting operations. The storage capacity shall be adequate to ensure that such waters can be tested and treated before discharge where necessary.

(6) (a) Without prejudice to regulation 11(4)(c), the waste incineration plant or waste co-incineration plant or individual furnaces being part of a waste incineration plant or waste co-incineration plant shall under no circumstances continue to incinerate waste for a period of more than four hours uninterrupted where emission limit values are exceeded.

(b) The cumulative duration of operation in such conditions over one year shall not exceed sixty hours.

(c) The time limit set out in the paragraph (b) shall apply to those furnaces which are linked to one single waste gas cleaning device.