Some industrial processes have the potential to cause pollution to air, land and water.
To prevent or minimise the potential for pollution, these processes need a permit to operate.
The largest and most complex industrial processes and all waste installations are regulated by the Environment Agency.
Details of the sites they regulate and how to make a complaint can be found on the GOV.UK website.
The smaller, less complex processes and those that only have the potential to cause air pollution are regulated by us, under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010.
What we do
The permitting process focuses on preventing problems rather than waiting for things to get bad.
Anyone who operates a proscribed process has to apply for a permit before they can begin operations.
The application gives us a chance to make sure that the right controls are in place from the start.
Once a permit has been granted we periodically inspect the installation to ensure that they continue to comply with all the permit conditions.
If an installation is causing unacceptable level of pollution, we will work with the operator to ensure that problems are sorted out as quickly as possible.
The Regulations require us to make a public register of environmental permits which is to be available for inspection.
See our list of environmental permits to find installations which may cause pollution.
To see details of particular premises, email pollution-technical@ealing.gov.uk
Permits and enforcement
Environmental permits are issued by the council on the condition that installations or mobile plant are operated using the best available techniques to prevent and minimise emissions.
The council will make regular inspections and take enforcement action as necessary to ensure that conditions are met.
Process guidance notes from the Secretary of State are issued for the main categories of regulated activities.
These include guidance on best available techniques from Defra for each type of polluting activity. Under the EP Regulations local authorities must keep up to date with developments in these techniques.
The council can issue legally enforceable notices to ensure that appropriate standards of control are met and raised in line with new techniques and new awareness of environmental risk.
Powers are available to stop an activity if there is an imminent risk of serious environmental pollution. Councils have powers of entry, inspection, sampling, investigation, and seizure of articles or substances in connection with their pollution control duties.
New permits and enquiries
For new permits and enquiries about Part B and Part A2 installations and mobile plant in the borough, email pollution-technical@ealing.gov.uk