Anne Cikankowitz

Local-Best Available Techniques: a standard broad performance assessment methodology under Best Available Techniques

The implementation of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) directive mandates that industries use techniques that have the same effectiveness as Best Available Techniques (BAT). BAT represents the combination of technical processes and management practices with overall positive environmental and cost benefits. Article 13 of the IPPC directive is about the revision for initial permit conditions. To comply, industries should adopt a rigorous approach to justify to the authorities that all of their existing techniques are equivalent to BAT environmental performances. This analysis must be done technique by technique. For this, technical guides have been established at the European level: the BREF. Unfortunately, these documents are not easy to use or particularly clear. Therefore, the aim of this research project is to develop an environmental performance process assessment methodology in order to compare and then validate in house processes as BAT. Our methodology will be tested on wastewater treatment processes for metal finishing sectors. This decision making tool emphasizes the cross media effects and thus corresponds to an integrated approach for the IPPC directive.

How to compare industrial techniques to Best Available Techniques

In order to reach an adequate level of environmental protection, the European Union has defined a set of common rules, in the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) directive, based on Best Available Techniques (BAT) for many pollutant installations. However, there is a problem: the IPPC does not suggest a way to meet BAT requirements for individual industrial units. Therefore, this paper presents the development of our environmental performance assessment methodology in order to transpose and facilitate the implementation of the IPPC directive locally. The approach offers a method to verify overall if an industrial installation conforms with BAT. This methodology is participatory and created with the advice of both industrial (from the metal finishing sector) and governmental (local, regional and national) representatives. This cognitive aid is designed to be updatable to deal with future regulatory and technical change. The participative approach plans to establish a decision support tool that is user friendly, effective and representative of the context involved. Finally, the case study is ongoing in the metal finishing sector.