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Time has run out for all drycleaners to have got their heads around the Solvent Emissions Directive Regulations 2004. The Regulations apply immediately to new installations. Existing installations must have compliled, or hvae been modified to comply, by 31 October 2007 but to demonstrate that you comply by then you should have applied for your permit by 31 October 2006. Any drycleaner which has still not put in a "duly made" application should do so immediately or face prosecution for operating without a permit - "duly made" means all the necessary information and documents are provided; so, applications should be made NOW in case they are returned for being inadequate. Contact your local council NOW if you haven't received an application form. It is the responsibility of individual dry cleaners to make an application, irrespective of whether there is proactive support from the local authority. In law, any dry cleaner who has not applied for a permit will risk prosecution, which will result in a very hefty fine or imprisonment for up to 6 months. Your business must apply whether or not you are reminded or helped by the local authority. If you need advice in completing the application form engage a suitable consultant. The TSA or the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health - www.cieh.org - can provide details of consultants. The Solvent Emissions Regulations 2004 cover the use of Perchloroethylene, Hydrocarbon and Siloxane solvent. Their objective is to control the level of solvents that escape to the atmosphere. They apply to every drycleaner in the country, large or small. You must comply or your business may be closed. The TSA has put together the SOLVCALC PACK (available to TSA members only) which will help you to understand what you need to do and contains all the forms you need to complete to prove that you are meeting the Regulations. The pack also contains a CD which can be used to complete your solvent usage figures on your computer and the calculations are done automatically. Simply put the Regulations require dry cleaners using Perchloroethylene to obtain a permit and clean at least 80 kg of work for each litre of solvent used. Different limits apply for Hydrocarbon and Siloxane. The Regulations are supplemented by Statutory Process Guidance Note 6/46 which will be sent to all dry cleaners. It is also available from DEFRA Publications, Admail 6000, London SW1A 2XX, or by telephoning 0845 955 6000 or free of charge via the following website: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/localauth/pubs/newsletters/index.htm Drycleaners in Scotland must register on the special SEPA form, also available from DEFRA. DEFRA is issuing Dry Cleaning Updates every two or three months for as long as necessary while dry cleaners are being brought within PPC and the Solvent Emissions Directive SED. The updates will cover topical regulatory issues. They will be sent to all local authorities in England and Wales. Issue nos. 1,2 & 3 can be obtained from the following link: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/dryclean-update/index.htm They will be very happy to include any queries or questions you have on compliance with the Solvents Emissions Directive and/or application to your Local Authority (LA) for registration in their next issue. The TSA SOLVCALC PACK is designed to help you through the various steps needed to comply with the Regulations. Namely: ** Dry cleaners must apply for a permit to operate a dry cleaning installation ** Dry cleaners must pay an application fee and an annual subsistence charge ** Dry cleaners must use less than 20 grams of solvent per kilogram of work cleaned and dried ** Dry cleaners must keep a Solvent Management Plan that demonstrates compliance and keep records, which must be available for inspection. THE PERMIT The Permit will set out detailed conditions that must be complied with to ensure the safe operation of the dry cleaning process. The Textile Services Association Ltd strongly recommends that all dry cleaners are aware of these conditions before any new or upgraded installation is started. Failure to obtain a permit, or comply with its conditions, or renew it, could result in the temporary or permanent suspension of dry cleaning operations at the relevant plant. Permit Application Fee and the Subsistence Fee England, Wales & Northern Ireland: *Application Fee = £132 / Subsistence Fee = £134 Scotland: Application Fee = £189 / Subsistence Fee = £198 *The application fee for exising dry cleaners will increase to £200 from 1 November 2006. To become a TSA member and obtain your copy of the Solvcalc Pack, telephone Beverley Long on 0208 863 7755 or email: beverley@tsa-uk.org for membership details or click on to the Join Us section of this website and apply on line. August 2006 Back to Stop Press |