Does your rubber and plastic business require a PPC permit?

Your business may require a pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit from your environmental regulator or local council. For example, you will need a permit if your business has a production capacity above a certain level or if you use certain hazardous substances.

If your business is an installation or mobile plant you will need a pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit from your environmental regulator.

An installation is a stationary technical unit, such as a self-contained building, permanent structure or fixed plant, used for listed activities.

A mobile plant is plant that can be moved and is used for listed activities.

Listed activities

These are industrial, waste or intensive farming activities that have an impact on the environment and are listed in the PPC regulations. They are split into categories:

  • Part A, B and C in Northern Ireland
  • Part A and B in Scotland

Listed activities that might be carried out by rubber and plastic businesses include:

Permit Categories

Listed activity

Northern Ireland

Scotland

producing plastic materials such as polymers, synthetic fibres and cellulose-based fibres

Part A

Part A

producing synthetic rubbers

Part A

Part A

polymerisation or co-polymerisation of unsaturated hydrocarbons or vinyl chloride

Part A

Part A

using one tonne or more of toluene di-isocyanate or equivalent

Part A

Part A

flame bonding of polyurethane foams or elastomers

Part A

Part A

manufacturing new tyres

Part A

Part B

using some organic chemicals such as toluene di-isocyanate or methane di-isocyanate (5 tonnes in 12 months in Northern Ireland)

Part B

Part B

bulk storage of chemicals

Part B

Part B

using carbon black to make natural or synthetic rubber

Part C

Part B

using fluorine or other halogens

Part C

Part B

surface treating metals which is likely to result in the release of any acid forming oxide of nitrogen (which does not fall within Part A)

Part B

Part B

cutting polyurethane foams or elastomers with heated wires

Part B

Part B

This guidance does not provide a complete list of PPC activities. If you are unsure whether you are affected by PPC contact your environmental regulator or, in Northern Ireland, your local council

What you must do

If your installation or mobile plant carries out listed activities you will need a permit from your environmental regulator.

Permits and regulators for listed activities

Activity category

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Part A

PPC permit regulated by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)

PPC permit regulated by SEPA

Part B

PPC permit regulated the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)

PPC permit regulated by SEPA

Part C

PPC permit regulated by local council

N/A

Contact your environmental regulator

You should contact your environmental regulator or local council for further information about listed activities. NetRegs does not provide detailed guidance on Part A activities.

If you are unsure whether you are affected by PPC, contact your environmental regulator or local council.

Contact your environmental regulator

Contact your local council

How to apply for a permit

NIEA: Apply online

SEPA: Application forms

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