The Environmental Protection Act 1990:Part 1 introduced important new controls aimed at limiting and preventing pollution from a wide range of industries in Great Britain - from power stations, oil refineries, municipal and clinical waste incinerators to re-spraying of road vehicles, maggot breeding and crematoria.
Those industries with the greatest potential to discharge polluting substances to air, land and water (called Part A processes) are subject to Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) and are regulated by the Environment Agency in England and Wales and by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency in Scotland.
IPC's aims were to achieve a balance between air, land and water pollution. For example, in controlling pollution to air, account should be taken of the effect that the chosen control method will have on land or water - the Best Practicable Environmental Option must be selected.
Certain industries, known as Part B processes, are regulated by Local Authorities in England and Wales for Local Air Pollution Control only. Local Authorities are also responsible for control of smoke, noise and other nuisances.
