The draft of the Industrial Pollution Act specifies the requirements set to companies operating in major fields of industry, in order to reduce and prevent industrial pollution that has a negative impact on human health. The objective is to ensure integral management of the prevention and control of emissions into air, water and soil, waste handling, efficient use of energy and accident prevention. According to the data of the European Environment Agency, there are 52,000 major industrial companies in Europe, having an essential impact on human health. The agency has estimated that more than 150 billion euro will be necessary in order to repair the health damages caused in such way in the European Union. The Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus explains that there are 256 such major producers in Estonia. "If we transform the data of the European Environment Agency to Estonia, we could say that the impact of the pollution caused by our industrial companies on human health can be measured with 800 million euro. This impact includes, for example, allergies and diseases needing treatment, worsening capacity for work." "A direct effect of updating of the requirements related to pollution is that the technical development will bring along gradual improvement of the living environment, a cleaner nature, air and water for the people living near major production companies. This means that the legal side needs to be reinforced," the Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus explained. Implementation of IPA will partially increase the workload of officials due to systematic control and additional companies operating on the basis of integrated permit, also increasing the obligations of the entrepreneurs to ensure reduction of pollution emissions and waste generation from major production. In the future, industrial companies also in Estonia must adopt the best possible technology that protects the living and natural environment. The draft sent for opinion is also paying more attention to informing the public. "Better access to the environmental data related to the industrial activities and an opportunity to have a word in the starting phase of planning of industrial operations that have an impact on the living environment of the people will undoubtedly enable making decisions that will take better account of all interests in the future," the Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus added. |
