December emissions monitoring results published

The Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility has published the emissions monitoring results for operational activity during December 2019. 

The emissions levels are set out in the facility’s Environmental Permit that was issued by the Environment Agency and reflects the emissions limits set out in the Industrial Emissions Directive.

The graph shows the level of permissible emissions according to the Environmental Permit, shown by an orange line. The actual emissions produced by the facility are shown in green as a percentage average output over the month. For this month, all emissions produced are below the permitted limit set by the Environment Agency and our permit.

Waste is combusted at the facility in a controlled manner and emissions generated from the process are treated; firstly the flue gases are cleaned by chemically dosing with lime and carbon to reduce the contaminants released during the combustion process. Then, a filtration system removes the particles contained in the flue gases before steam is finally passed into the atmosphere.  The Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) used on site monitors emissions throughout the combustion and gas cleaning process to ensure they meet the requirements of the environmental permit. Further details on how the gases are managed through the process can be found here.

The Environment Agency regularly monitors emissions from the facility through visits, inspections and by reviewing the monthly data Urbaser provides to it, which is a requirement of the environmental permit. We work with the Environment Agency, as the regulator, to ensure emission limits specified within the Environmental Permit are complied with at all times. 

The next report will be available in early March detailing January’s performance.