By law Local Authorities are required to regulate certain types of industries to reduce pollution and in particular improve air quality. The laws include The Pollution Prevention & Control Act 1999 and Environmental Permitting (England and Wales Regulations) 2007 which together govern Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control and Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control.

Our role in the regime is to issue permits which set controls and emission standards to minimise pollution from certain industrial activities. The Activities which require a permit can be found in Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007. Once a Permit has been issued we routinely inspect the activity, those with a higher pollution potential are inspected more frequently. If a company breaches the conditions we set in the Permit we can take enforcement action which may lead to prosecution. More on Pollution Prevention and Control

The activities listed in the Environmental Permitting regulations 2007are split into three categories namely A1, A2 and Part B activities.

A1 Activities

The Environment Agency control A1 activities, which are the larger more polluting and complex industries e.g.  power stations. Enquiries about A1 activities should be made to the Environment Agency.

A2 Activities

We undertake the inspection and regulation of all part A2 activities within the Borough. In Dudley these activities include large foundries and brick manufacturers. The Part A2 activities regime is known as Local Authority Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (LA-IPPC). More on Part A2 Activities

Part B Activities

Part B activities are those that have less potential to cause pollution and include activities such as vehicle re-spraying, furniture manufacture and unloading of petrol. The Part B activities regime is known as Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC).  More on Part B Activities

Commercial and Industrial Bonfires

It is illegal to dispose of trade waste by burning and any business doing so is potentially committing three separate offences. Trade waste is any waste that is generated by commercial and business premises.

The emission of dark or black smoke from industrial bonfires constitutes an offence under the Clean Air Act 1993.

Nuisances

Under Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 the Section can take action to secure the abatement of statutory nuisances from industrial premises. A statutory nuisance can arise from excessive smoke, noise disturbance, odour, dust and fumes arising from industrial activities.

In addition to industrial nuisances the Section also investigates nuisance from noise caused by vehicles, machinery or equipment in the street.