Certain business activities can potentially harm the environment or human health if not properly controlled. Typically, you may need to apply for an environmental permit if you operate a "regulated facility" that can pollute the air, water, or land, or increase flood risk or impact land drainage.
Types of facilities requiring permits
You need an environmental permit if you operate any of the following:
Installations
Industrial facilities, manufacturers, or other businesses that produce potentially harmful substances, such as landfill sites, large chicken farms, food factories, furniture factories, dry cleaners, or petrol stations.
Waste operations
Sites where waste is recycled, stored, treated, or disposed of.
Mining waste operations
Sites that manage waste produced from mines or quarries.
Medium combustion plants or specified generators
Facilities that generate a significant amount of energy from combustion.
Small waste incineration plants
Facilities that burn specific types and quantities of waste.
Mobile plants
Plants that are designed to move or be moved, such as machines used to clean contaminated soil or mobile crushers.
Solvent emission activities
Activities that release organic solvents into the air directly or indirectly.
Offences under the regulations
The primary offences under the Environmental Permitting Regulations are:
- Operating a regulated facility without a permit.
- Causing or knowingly permitting an unauthorised water discharge or groundwater activity.
- Failing to comply with the conditions of a permit or an enforcement-related notice.
Contact
Environmental Health
Address
2nd Floor
Municipal Building
Archway Road
Huyton
L36 9FB
Telephone
0151 443 4712