Latest News

Proposed Change to Waste Collection Meets Resistance

Posted 13/03/2012

In June 2011 the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government published a discussion document ‘Altering the Structure of Household Waste Collection Markets’. The main policy change involves ‘franchise bidding’ from waste companies for the right to collect waste in a particular Local Authority area. The current system allows waste companies to offer services wherever they see fit. In some areas this gives residents the option of a number of providers and has in general brought more competition and keener pricing.

Pharmaceuticals in the Environment – A new approach

Posted 12/03/2012

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) released to surface waters have been an issue of concern for some time. The vast majority of APIs are discharged to the environment from municipal wastewater treatment plants but regulators have been slow to control such discharges. More attention has been paid to discharges from industrial plants as inputs and outputs are easier to control.

Waste Contractors - Are you taking risks?

Posted 05/03/2012

For facilities that are generally compliant with environmental legislation, one of the areas in which they are most exposed is in relation to waste management. In the event of a problem regarding a waste contractor, media coverage will focus on the well known companies that have used the contractor as opposed to the lesser known contractor. We believe that industrial facilities may be exposed for the following reasons;

Nutrient Reduction in Rivers

Posted 21/02/2012

Currently the EPA is reviewing IPPC licenses with a view to ensuring compliance with the Surface Water Regulations (S.I. 272 of 2009). The regulations set new ambient concentration limits which include stricter limits on nutrient (Nitrogen & Phosphorus) concentrations in surface waters.

Radon in the Workplace

Posted 09/02/2012

It is estimated that as many as 200 deaths per year in Ireland occur as a result of lung cancer caused by exposure to radon. We are all aware of radon exposure in the home but radon exposure in the workplace gets less media attention.

Process Water Analysis Available Online

Posted 03/02/2012

Access to a safe drinking water supply is critical for society. And for many industries drinking water supplied by the local Water Services Authority also acts as their process water supply. In many cases the quality of that water is critical to both product quality and efficient process operation.

The EPA has recently published drinking water analysis data for 2010 on a county by county basis and this can be accessed here

EPA launches on-line register for Extractive Industries

Posted 07/12/2011

BREF Documents – Get involved in the process

Posted 05/12/2011

In Ireland the EPA bases, for the most part, its BAT Guidance Note on the equivalent EU BREF document.

Protected Sites and the NPWS

Posted 28/11/2011

The NPWS (National Parks and Wildlife Service) is the agency which designates and advises on the classification of sites as protected areas in Ireland.

For a number of reasons industrial activities need to confirm whether or not they are on or near protected sites. These have been referred to in other Environet news items and include implications for;

- Environmental Liabilities Directive

Useful Information from the European Environment Agency

Posted 24/11/2011