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Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document (BRef) for Food, Drink and Milk Industries SEPA is required to review associated permits following the publication of the revised Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document (BRef) for Food, Drink and Milk Industries. The associated BAT conclusions to this document were published on the 4th December 2019 in the Official Journal of the European Union. This document is available through the following link: BAT Conclusions for Food, Dr

Recycling materials has the potential to bring significant economic and environmental benefits to Scotland. The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require that all waste producers (excluding householders) take reasonable steps to present key dry recyclables such as glass, metals, plastics, paper and card (including cardboard) for separate collection. The regulations also require some food businesse

SEPA works with the Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland to achieve the objectives and targets of the Zero Waste Plan, published in 2010. We have a wide range of responsibilities including regulating waste management activities such as landfills, incinerators and the export of waste, administering the producer responsibility schemes for packaging, WEEE and batteries, collecting and interpre

Under this Agreement, Nestlé and SEPA have formed a three-year partnership to explore opportunities for environmental innovation in Scotland with Nestlé currently drawing down around 8% of Scottish dairy, processed at its factory in Girvan, South Ayrshire. The agreement will cover three main areas: Developing circular economy opportunities in food production, food waste and packaging with Scotlan

Information regarding aquaculture and its importance to Scotland's economy. Aquaculture is defined as the rearing of aquatic animals or the cultivation of aquatic plants in both seawater and freshwater for food and can take many forms. In Scotland, aquaculture is dominated by the production of fish – predominantly salmon, trout, cod and halibut, and shellfish such as mussels, oysters and scallops – but there are other important sectors as well. Aquaculture contributes to

Radioactive substances are used routinely in Scotland for medical diagnosis and treatment, research, energy generation and industrial processes. Under the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EA(S)R), we regulate these activities including discharges to the environment. We are responsible for ensuring that public radiation doses as a result of authorised radioactive discharges

Radioactive substances are used routinely in Scotland for medical diagnosis and treatment, research, energy generation and industrial processes. However, if they are not managed properly they can potentially cause contamination of the environment and impacts on human health. A key part of our work is to ensure that radiation doses from all man-made radioactive substances in food and the environmen

The European Union Waste Statistics Regulation (2150/2002/EC) came into force in November 2002. It requires all Member States to provide data to the European Commission every two years on the generation and treatment of waste and on the number and capacity of waste management facilities. In this context, waste treatment covers incineration, recovery and disposal. The aim of the Regulation is to es

SEPA often receives environmental event notifications for issues for which are the statutory responsibility of other organisations. To help you get to the right place quickly the table below provides a quick guide to a number of issues, together with how you can contact the right organisation. Responsibilities by topic Responsibilities Organisations Abandoned vehicles Your local authority Y

Food and other organic wastes can be treated by composting and anaerobic digestion to produce valuable resources such as fertiliser and biogas. Composting and anaerobic digestion are increasingly being used as an alternative to landfill and we have an important role to play in ensuring these are correctly managed and regulated. What is composting? Composting is the autothermic (self-heating) and t