Industrial Pollution

Islington is predominantly a residential and commercial borough with a few small pockets utilised for industrial purposes. These pockets are usually occupied by small industries with a medium potential to cause air pollution.

Legislative Framework

Part 1 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 came into force in April 1991. The Act established a two-tier system in England and Wales:

• The Local Authority Air Pollution Control (LAPC) system enforced by the Local Enforcing Authorities
• The Integrated Pollution Control System (IPC) enforced by the Environment Agency.
  
  

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, industries operating potentially air polluting processes require authorisation by either the Environment Agency or the Local Authority in order to protect the environment.

The Environment Agency are responsible for the most polluting processes (known as Part A Processes) and Local Authorities are responsible for other industries where air pollution may be an issue (known as Part B Processes).

The system outlined above is being progressively replaced by regulations under the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Act 1999. Instead of the existing two-tier approach these regulations will provide a single system. The new system introduces a new category known as A2 processes which are the responsibility of the Local Authority.

Under the current system all industrial premises regardless of their location are required to meet the same targets, under the new system the location of the site should be considered when setting emission targets. This is particularly important in Islington, as many of our industrial premises are located in close proximity to residential areas.

Authorised Processes in Islington

The London Borough of Islington currently has a total of eighteen processes authorised under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Part 1.

These include:

• A Part A Process, a Combined Heat and Power Station located in the southwest corner of the borough. The Environment Agency closely monitors the site and surrounds to ensure emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxides, carbon monoxides and hydrocarbons are kept in line with what can be achieved within the limits of current technology
• Two vehicle re-sprayers which are potential source of VOCs. Abatement equipment installed at this site greatly reduces emissions to the atmosphere
• One process which deals with blending, packing, loading and use of bulk cement, which is a potential source of dust emissions (PM10). Regulation ensures that abatement equipment and procedures are in place in order to minimise dust emissions from this site
• Fourteen petrol filling stations all of which have all been fitted with vapour recovery systems, which reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds when petrol is delivered to the service stations
  
  

The Future

The new system (PPC) is unlikely to significantly impact on the number and type of processes regulated in Islington (no A2 processes have been identified). However, tighter emission controls maybe required at certain sites owing to their geographical location which will improve air quality in the region.

Smaller vehicle re-sprayers and petrol filling stations will be brought under the system in the foreseeable future thus having a positive impact on air quality in the borough.

Islington Council will continue to work closely with existing authorised sites to ensure compliance.