Integrated environmental permit through Best Available Techniques: evaluation of the fish and seafood canning industry

Abstract

Abstract Fish and seafood canning industry constitutes a fundamental sector for the economy of Galicia (NW Spain), where these companies represent more than 50% of the total number of installations of this sector in Spain, and they account for 80% of the national production. So, highlighting their essential role in the economy of the region, it is important to foster the sustainability through the responsible consumption of raw materials, the prevention and reduction of waste generation and the use of green technologies. This is a desirable goal at the European Union (EU) which can be undertaken with the philosophy proposed in 1996 by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive and updated in 2010 by Directive 2010/75/EU. The IPPC policy lays down a framework requiring EU Member States to issue operating permits for industrial installations carrying out certain activities described in Annex 1 of the Directive, including fish and seafood canning industry in epigraph 6.4.b. The main points of these laws are prevention, multimedia licencing, reporting, freedom of access of information, use of Best Available Techniques (BAT), and setting of Emission Limit Values (ELVs). Moreover, the Directive takes into account emissions to the air, water and soil, as well as waste management, resource efficiency and energy efficiency aspects. In brief, the purpose of the IPPC is to achieve a high level of protection for the total environment and the health of people. This paper analyses the degree of implementation of the IPPC Directive in the fish and seafood canning industry of Galicia, in the North–West (NW) of Spain. A methodology is proposed to compare emissions on the basis of emission factors, considering the implemented BAT and their influence on the overall environmental performance of the installation.