A loophole that has survived into the final draft of the new rules could allow plant operators to pollute more if they add biomass \u2013 like wood chippings or vegetable waste \u2013 to the hazardous materials they already burn.<\/p>\n
Christian Schaible, Policy Manager<\/strong> for Industrial Production at the EEB said:<\/p>\n \u201cPeople expect EU rules to mean safer industry and a reduced environmental impact and industry expects a level playing field where all companies must follow the same rules. So it\u2019s astonishing that we now face a situation where a loophole could encourage some to use a poisonous mix of waste to dodge EU limits.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is Europe\u2019s largest network of environmental citizens\u2019 organisations, with 150 members in more than 30 countries. The EEB represents European environmental NGOs at EU talks on new industrial rules. <\/em><\/p>\n Under current proposals certain waste co-incineration plants burning only 100% non-biomass waste, will need to follow tighter rules and cut their emissions, but if they mix their wastes with biomass they could be exempt from the new rules.<\/p>\n The loophole is contained in a revised industrial standards document called Best Available Techniques (BAT) conclusions for waste incineration (WI BAT-C).<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Despite objections from environmental groups, a number of governments and even some industry bodies, the current proposal [1] excludes from its scope the co-incineration of waste if at least partially comprised of biomass waste. This means that these plants will operate under less strict conditions.<\/p>\n Large incinerators, with a thermal input of 50 MW or above, will need to follow more lenient rules set in the BAT conclusions for large combustion plants, but this document also refers back to the new waste incineration standards, which, due to the loophole, exempt certain fuels mixed with other waste, including hazardous substances.<\/p>\n Smaller incinerators, with a thermal input of less than 50 MW will not have to comply with any EU BAT standards.<\/p>\n The EEB and partners at Zero Waste Europe had already alerted the Commission that the current formulation creates regulatory loopholes that could result in poor implementation of EU rules in a letter sent in April this year. However, it appears this warning has so far been ignored.<\/p>\n Christian Schaible, Policy Manager for industrial production said:<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important that the Commission and governments now heed our warning to remove this loophole.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The EEB is calling for the word \u201cexclusively\u201d to be added to the following sentence, which would remove the current exemption and close the loophole:<\/p>\n The first bullet point in section 5.2 of the WI BAT-C scope should be modified slightly: \u00a0The WI BREF BAT-C standards should apply \u201cif wastes are combusted, except if those wastes are exclusively<\/u> composed of biomass (as defined in Article 3(31 (b) of Directive 2010\/75\/EU)\u201d<\/p>\n The EEB has been critical about the review of the waste incineration standards. The review has failed to require emission cuts in line with what is technically possible using available environmental protection techniques although some minor improvements have been made since we published the report \u2018A Wasted Opportunity<\/a>\u2019 in April last year.<\/p>\n More than 80 million tonnes of household waste is burnt in Europe every year. Campaigners warn this is incompatible with the aim of moving to \u2018circular economy\u2019 \u2013 where waste is prevented and products reused or recycled.<\/p>\n Footnotes<\/strong><\/p>\n [1] http:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/transparency\/regcomitology\/index.cfm?do=search.documentdetail&Dos_ID=17733&ds_id=62211&version=1&page=1<\/a><\/p>\n [2] BAT 61 of the BREF for Large Combustion Plants<\/a> has introduced\u00a0 a safety net provision that the resulting emissions from co-incinerating waste should not exceed the level that would be met if the Waste Incineration BREF standards would be complied with<\/p>\n [3] https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php?juwpfisadmin=false&action=wpfd&task=file.download&wpfd_category_id=59&wpfd_file_id=98550&token=4e27653a7ae26caefbcb82f51175ef8b&preview=1<\/a><\/p>\n For more information:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Final draft of the Best Available Techniques reference document for waste incineration: http:\/\/eippcb.jrc.ec.europa.eu\/reference\/BREF\/WI\/WI_BREF_FD_Black_Watermark.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n The letter sent by EEB and Zero Waste Europe: https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php?juwpfisadmin=false&action=wpfd&task=file.download&wpfd_category_id=59&wpfd_file_id=98550&token=4e27653a7ae26caefbcb82f51175ef8b&preview=1<\/a><\/p>\n Further background:<\/strong><\/p>\n The EEB PR prior to the final meeting of the technical working group: https:\/\/eeb.org\/business-as-usual-for-waste-incineration-as-updated-eu-protections-match-or-weaken-existing-guidelines\/<\/a><\/p>\n