By law Local Authorities are required to regulate certain types of industries to reduce pollution and in particular improve air quality.
Commercial and industrial bonfires
It's illegal to dispose of trade waste by unauthorised burning and any business doing so is potentially committing an offence. Trade waste is any waste that is generated by commercial and business premises. An allegation of burning trade waste is a matter for the Environmental Agency to investigate.
The emission of dark or black smoke from trade or industrial bonfires premises constitutes an offence under the Clean Air Act 1993. The Council will investigate all allegations of dark or black smoke arising from trade or industrial premises.
Nuisances
Under Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 we 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 or fumes arising from industrial activities.
In addition to industrial nuisances we also investigate nuisance from noise caused by amplified noise, machinery or equipment in the street.
Environmental permits
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 and Control Act 1999 and Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 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 2016.
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.
The activities listed in the Environmental Permitting regulations 2016 are split into three categories namely A1, A2 and Part B activities. Further information, including how to apply for a permit, is available under the Licences, Registrations and Permits: Pollution prevention and control section.
Contact Us
Environmental Safety and Health
Council House
Priory Road
Dudley
DY1 1HF
Telephone 0300 555 2345
Office Hours: Monday to Friday - 8.45am to 5pm
Offices are closed at weekends and Bank Holidays.