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Waste Incineration Directive - what is our role?

The Environment Agency regulates all incinerators that burn hazardous waste as well as other incinerators that burn non-hazardous waste at a rate of more than 1 tonne per hour

We regulate all incinerators that burn hazardous waste, as well as other incinerators that burn non-hazardous waste at a rate of more than 1 tonne per hour. This permitting process involves consulting the public, local authority, Food Standards Agency and the Primary Care Trust.

We will only issue a permit if we are satisfied that the plant will be designed, built, operated and maintained in such a way that the requirements of the directive are met and human health and the environment are protected.

The issuing of a permit marks the first stage of our regulation of an incinerator. We then start a continued assessment of the plant operations and its environmental performance. This will include the continuous and periodic monitoring of emissions by the operator, check monitoring by us and frequent plant inspections. The operator must inform us of any breaches of the permit conditions within 24 hours. Depending on the seriousness of this breach, we take appropriate enforcement action and/or prosecute.

Local authorities regulate smaller (less than 1 tonne per hour waste) incinerators burning non-hazardous waste.