Reduction of pollution caused by waste from the titanium dioxide industry

This Directive sets up, according to Article 9 (3) of Directive 78/176/EEC, procedures for the harmonisation of programmes for the reduction of pollution caused by waste from existing industrial establishments, and improves the conditions of competition in the sector of titanium dioxide production.

ACT

Council Directive 92/112/EEC of 15 December 1992 on procedures for harmonizing the programmes for the reduction and eventual elimination of pollution caused by waste from the titanium dioxide industry.

SUMMARY

The Directive is intended to fill the legal void created by the annulment of Council Directive 89/428/EEC (Official Journal L 201 of 14.07.1989) by the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

The Directive applies to solid waste, strong acid waste, weak acid waste, neutralized waste, treatment waste and dust. The processes covered are the sulphate process and the chloride process. The Directive also concerns dumping.

The dumping of any waste from ships or aircraft was prohibited as of 15 June 1993.

Discharges into territorial waters and the high sea of solid waste and strong acid waste from existing industrial establishments using either process and of treatment waste from existing industrial establishments using the sulphate process are prohibited from 15 June 1993.

Discharges into any waters of waste other than that referred to at point 4 above is reduced to limit values laid down by the Directive. Member States may choose to make use of quality objectives coupled with appropriate limit values, provided they demonstrate, in a programme presented to the Commission, that the measures achieve an equivalent effect in terms of protecting the environment and avoiding distortion of competition. The Member States must ensure that this reduction is achieved by 31 December 1993 or, under certain conditions, by 31 December 1994 for the sulphate process, and by 15 June 1993 for the chlorine process.

The Member States must ensure that discharges into the atmosphere are reduced in accordance with limit values laid down by the Directive.

The Member States monitor compliance with the limit values.

The Member States are subject to the general obligation to avoid or reuse the waste referred to by the Directive or, failing that, to dispose of it. Their actions must not endanger human health or harm the environment.

RELATED ACTS

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (recast) [COM(2007) 844 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

Last updated: 23.05.2008