Technical guidance for regulated industry sectors: environmental permitting
Environmental permitting technical guidance for your activity.
Some of the generic guidance documents referred to in these technical guides have been withdrawn and replaced with new versions.
The sector technical guides are still current and how the Environment Agency regulates you and your legal requirements has not changed.
Changes to generic guidance documents are:
- the generic ‘How to comply with your environmental permit’ has been withdrawn and replaced with new guides about developing a management system and controlling and monitoring emissions
- H1 risk assessment overview guidance and related annexes have been withdrawn and replaced with a new risk assessment overview guide with supporting specialist risk assessment guides
You need to read these generic guides in addition to your sector technical guidance.
Combustion activities
See the BREF technical guidance for large combustion plants.
Food and drink
See the BREF technical guidance for the food, drink and milk industries.
Paper, pulp and cardboard manufacturing
See the BREF technical guidance for paper, pulp and cardboard manufacturing.
Biological waste treatment and transfer
This appropriate measures guidance is relevant to permitted waste management facilities that handle organic waste, also known as biowaste. Facilities that operate under a relevant waste exemption, and crop fed anaerobic digestion sites, can also use this guidance.
Chemicals
Chemical waste treatment and transfer
This appropriate measures guidance applies to:
- new chemical waste facilities applying for permits from 18 November 2020
- existing facilities once their permits have been varied
Chemical waste includes:
- hazardous chemical wastes (for example sulphuric acid or engine oil)
- wastes that contain, or are contaminated with, hazardous chemicals (for example contaminated soils)
- non-hazardous chemical wastes (for example non-hazardous sludges from physico-chemical treatment) that are treated chemically
Chemical waste sites that were permitted before 18 November 2020 need to continue to use the ‘Sector Guidance Note S5.06: recovery and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste’ until their permits are varied.
Emerging techniques for energy and net zero
End of life vehicles (ELVs)
The standards (appropriate measures) that are relevant to regulated facilities with an environmental permit to store and treat ELVs or components. Exempt facilities which store or treat ELVs or components may find this guidance useful.
Gasification, liquefaction and refining industry
Healthcare waste treatment and transfer
The appropriate measures guidance applies to:
- new healthcare waste facilities applying for permits from 13 July 2020
- existing facilities once their permits have been varied
Healthcare waste facilities that were permitted before 13 July 2020 should continue to use the ‘Clinical waste: additional guidance (How to comply with your permit EPR 5.07)’ until their permits are varied.
Intensive farming
Landfill
Landspreading permits
Metals production and processing
Mining
Non-hazardous and inert waste treatment and transfer
The appropriate measures guidance applies to new and existing non-hazardous and inert waste facilities applying for permits from 12 July 2021.
Best available technique associated emissions levels (BAT AELs) are not included in our appropriate measures guidance. Installation operators in particular should refer to the relevant BAT AELs in the BAT conclusions document.
Printing and textiles – coating activities
Slaughterhouses – poultry and red meat abattoirs
Treating metal waste in shredders
The appropriate measures guidance applies to:
- new facilities treating metal waste in shredders applying for permits from 20 October 2021
- existing facilities once their permits have been varied
Waste batteries treatment and transfer
This guidance explains the appropriate measures that apply to regulated facilities permitted to treat or transfer waste batteries.
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) treatment and transfer
This appropriate measures guidance applies to:
- new WEEE facilities applying for permits from 13 July 2022
- existing facilities once their permits have been varied
The guidance also applies to sites that treat or transfer materials derived from the processing of WEEE that require further treatment to comply with the WEEE Directive. For example, the sorting and segregation of WEEE plastic containing brominated flame retardants.
There’s additional guidance on the appropriate measures for facilities that treat or transfer waste temperature exchange equipment (WTEE). If your facility is permitted to treat or transfer WTEE then you must comply with both the WEEE guidance and the WTEE guidance.