To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the Environment Agency applies the polluter pays principle as part of the environmental permitting process for municipal waste incinerators when balancing the (a) cost to the public of increased pollution with (b) any additional cost to the applicant of additional or alternative measures, technologies or techniques that would lower emissions.
Answered on
6 June 2022
The polluter pays principle is applied through the permit application fee and subsequent operational subsistence fees. An operator will face incremental increases in their subsistence fees if they breach the conditions of their permit. The EA also has an enforcement and sanctions policy which includes the use of monetary penalties for offences.
The EA will only issue a permit for a municipal waste incinerator if the applicant can demonstrate that they will use best available techniques to prevent and minimise emissions, and that the plant would not give rise to significant pollution of the environment or harm to human health.