Minimize potential environmental liability by ensuring that your business, employees and contractors understand: Legal & corporate requirements Their duties & obligations What to recognize What actions to take What and How to report Who is responsible Why it is important ECOS builds in-house expertise using a range of formal and informal training forums including one to...

Serious deficiencies exist with urban waste water treatment plants and there are widespread and negative impacts on the environment flowing from these deficiencies. The EPA report “Focus on Urban Waste Water Discharges in Ireland” (February 2012) has identified that almost 50% of urban waste water treatment facilities in Ireland do not meet EU waste water quality...

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires no deterioration in the status of a water body.  The status of and possible impacts on receiving waters from storm water discharges can affect this status and must be considered.  Trigger levels on the discharge can be utilised as a tool to ensure the maintenance of the status of...

The European Commission has proposed a list of products and materials to clarify what should and should not be considered as packaging. Some 26 items have been added to an annex to the 2004 EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. The list was sent to the Council of Ministers last week following a consultation with...

The purpose of the register is to fulfill the requirements of the Aarhus Convention, as a simple means of affording access to information about environmental emissions and transfers. The pollutant release and transfer register lists in excess of 300 industrial facilities engaged in environmentally hazardous activities. For each facility, information is provided concerning the amount...

The EPA has issued a draft guidance documented is intended for use by EPA licensed sites in order to provide licensees with a methodology for setting appropriate site specific trigger levels at storm water discharge points. The EPA has issued a draft guidance documented intended for use by EPA licensed sites to provide licensees with...

Environmental Compliance means conforming to environmental laws, standards, legal mandates, regulations, lease stipulations, mitigation measures, approved plans and permits, and other conditions of approval for activities. Environmental Sustainability relates to activities and developments which address current needs without compromising the ability  to meet future requirements. ECOS applies our specialist knowledge and support our clients to achieve...

Eight more substances of very high concern (SVHC) have been added to the REACH Authorisation list of substances subject to prior approval (Authorisation), following a decision adopted by the European Commission on 14 February 2012.   The substances, with uses including plasticisers, pigments and  glass manufacture, are diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) diarsenic trioxide  diarsenic pentaoxide lead chromate,...

The requirement for control and treatment of Water and Wastewater is driven by health and legislative requirements, including: Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977-1990. The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 Urban Wastewater Treatment (91/271/EEC) Drinking Water (80/778/EEC as amended by 98/83/EC) ECOS have over 20 years of specialist expertise and...

Pollution prevention as a term has become less used recently, supplanted by sustainability.  However, the fundamental idea of preventing pollution rather than trying to address problems caused by pollution is essential for efficient, economically viable development, ie Sustainable Development. It  makes sense, both economically and environmentally, to. Reduce the input of materials and energy Minimize the...