Publication of new EU environmental standards for the waste incineration sector

The BAT conclusions include BAT-associated emission levels (BAT-AELs) which have the potential, through their translation into emission limits, to drive a sizeable reduction in emissions from the waste incineration sector.

For emissions to air, the BAT conclusions address a number of advanced primary and secondary techniques to reduce the emission of pollutants into air. BAT-associated emission levels (BAT-AELs) are set for mercury and other metals, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated dioxins and furans, and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls. Important improvements are introduced in monitoring emissions to air, in particular regarding the continuous measurement of mercury and the long-term sampling of polychlorinated dioxins and furans.

For water, the BAT conclusions focus on techniques to maximise water savings and optimise water consumption, as well as on secondary treatment techniques used to reduce the concentration of pollutants in the effluent. BAT-AELs are set for pollutants including total organic carbon, total suspended solids, metals (e.g. arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, mercury), polychlorinated dioxins and furans.

The individual BAT conclusions also help national authorities address other environmental issues contributing to the circular economy such as energy efficiency and resource efficiency including water and reagents consumption and recovery of useful materials.

Competent authorities in Member States have 4 years to verify if existing installations (i.e. those first permitted before the publication of the BAT conclusions) comply with the new standards. New installations (i.e. those first permitted after the publication of the BAT conclusions) need to comply immediately with the new requirements.

These BAT conclusions also play an important role in achieving EU environmental and waste management policy goals that are based on the "waste hierarchy