Tuesday 24 September 2013

Record number of Scottish industrial sites fail to control pollution

A record number of industrial sites in Scotland have been condemned for failing to control pollution after being given a ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ rating by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

The agency gave ‘poor’ ratings to 220 sites and ‘very poor’ ratings to another 47 in its yearly Compliance Assessment Scheme for 2012, the highest number in the four years since it began.

In 2011 ‘poor’ ratings went to 170 sites and ‘very poor’ to 46. SEPA said although there were more sites in these categories for 2012, the proportion of the 3839 sites assessed ‘excellent’, ‘good’ or ‘broadly compliant’ was higher than in 2011.

Waste, recycling, sewage and fish farming were among the worst performing sectors. The energy sector did comparatively well with only three sites judged to be ‘poor’ and one ‘very poor’.

Calum MacDonald, SEPA’s Executive Director is quoted as saying: "Compliance with the licences we issue is of paramount importance to ensure that Scotland's environment and human health are safeguarded."