Page 130 - Sustainability in the Process Industry Integration and Optimization

Ma s s I n t e g r a t i o n 107

• Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)
• Strategies to prevent chemical pollution of surface water
under the Water Framework Directive
• “Priority” substances under Article 16 of the Water Framework
Directive
• A European action program on flood risk management
• Discharges of Dangerous Substances Directive (76/464/EEC)
• Water pollution stemming from urban wastewater and
certain industrial sectors; Urban Waste Water Treatment
Directive (91/271/EEC)
• Water pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources;
Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC)
• Bathing water quality of rivers, lakes, and coastal waters;
Bathing Water Quality Directive (76/160/EEC) and proposed
revisions
• Drinking water quality; Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC)

Most of these items directly (or indirectly) concern the water used
and wastewater discharged by processing industries.

5.2.2 Best Available Techniques
The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive
(96/61/EC) introduced a framework within which EU member states
are required to issue operating permits for industrial installations
performing certain activities. These permits must prescribe
conditions that are based on best available techniques (BATs). Best
available techniques are those with the best overall environmental
performance that can be introduced at a reasonable cost, and their
purpose is to ensure a high level of protection for the environment as
a whole. A key aim of the IPPC Directive is to stimulate an intensive
exchange of information on BAT between the European member
states and affected industries. The European IPPC Bureau (eippcb.
jrc.es) organizes this exchange of information and produces BAT
reference documents (BREFs), which member states must take into
account when establishing permit conditions. The bureau carries out
its work through technical working groups (TWGs) consisting of
nominated experts from industry, EU member states, countries in
the European Free Trade Association, and nongovernmental
organizations concerned with the environment. Because the
European IPPC Bureau is located in Seville, Spain, activities carried
out within the framework of the IPPC Directive are often referred to
as “the Seville process.”
Several BAT-oriented studies have been made in food processing
industries. A good example comes from the Flemish Centre for Best
Available Techniques (BAT-CENTRE, 2009). This document contains