The British Cleaning Council (BCC), coordinating body for the UK cleaning industry, has warned its members that new pollution prevention and control legislation could significantly affect all sectors of the cleaning business. The new Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control and Contaminated Land regulations cover everything with any possible environmental impact on land, air, or water, and are more complex than any previous legislation. The BCC predicts the legislation could dramatically affect how individual companies operate. Non-compliance could lead to substantial fines and possible shutdowns.
Although the law is aimed primarily at larger chemical companies and sites, it also applies to the public sector, as well as to smaller companies. According to the BCC, window or carpet cleaners, for example, might no longer be able to empty their dirty water into the nearest drain, but may have to transport it for disposal at a special site. The new legislation requires the “Best Available Technique” (BAT) to be used, rather than the previously required “Best Available Technique Not Entailing Excessive Cost” (BATNEEC). Based on a report from i-FM
