Southwest Environmental Limited

Environmental Permit Application for Waste Oil Processing Facility

The Environmental Permitting Regulations are a relatively new piece of legislation which is rapidly changing the way the Government Control Industry Based Pollution in the UK. The EPR regulation are administered and enforced by the Environment Agency.

SWEL were approached by a company based in the south of England who were in the steps of applying for a Environmental Permit.

It was also requested that associated documentation for the operation of the facility was prepared including various Operational Documents and Management Plans.

A requirement of the permit was secondary containment of all vessels holding oil. Replacement of existing tanks with bunded tanks were suggested by the EA which would have meant a considerable Capital Outlay.

A particular success was the a practical suggestion made by SWEL to bund the building the tanks were housed in, as this proved much more cost effective.

The site has been operating successfully under its new permit for some time.

Image: SuSanA Secretariat [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The below section was written by a machine.

Technical Guidance: Securing a Waste Oil Environmental Permit

Operating a facility for the storage, treatment, or recovery of waste oil requires a specific Environmental Permit to ensure that hazardous materials are managed without risk to human health or the environment. Given the combustible nature and potential for water contamination associated with hydrocarbons, the application process is rigorous. This technical guidance outlines the requirements for obtaining a permit under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) and maintaining long-term compliance.

Technical Requirements for Waste Oil Facilities

To satisfy the Environment Agency or local regulators, an application must demonstrate that the facility utilizes Best Available Techniques (BAT) for pollution prevention. Key technical pillars include:

• Secondary Containment: Ensuring all storage tanks are situated within compliant bunds to prevent leaks from reaching ground or surface waters, often integrated with a site-specific surface water management strategy.
• Waste Characterization and Acceptance: Implementing strict procedures to verify oil types and prevent the accidental acceptance of contaminated or incompatible wastes.
• Odour and Emission Control: Utilizing effective air abatement technologies where treatment processes might release volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Fire Prevention: Developing a robust Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) to manage the inherent risks associated with bulk oil storage.

Site Characterization and Baseline Evidence

A critical component of any new waste oil permit application is the Site Condition Report (SCR). This document establishes the baseline soil and groundwater chemistry, often supported by data from an intrusive site investigation. This evidence is essential for demonstrating that the site has not been degraded during the permitted tenure. For facilities in sensitive urban areas, such as those within the London Air Quality Neutral zone, additional air quality modeling may be required to assess the impact of site operations.

Professional Technical Support

The complexity of waste oil regulation means that specialized technical authority is required to navigate the application process. At Southwest Environmental Limited, we combine over 15 years of industry experience with a portfolio of 900+ projects to deliver definitive permitting guidance. We help operators implement a functional Environmental Management System (EMS) to track waste movements and ensure regulatory conditions are met. Our consultants provide the professional accreditation (IES/FGS) and technical insight needed to secure your facility's operational future.