Best available technology facts for kids

The Best Available Technology (often called BAT) is a term used to describe the best ways and tools that companies should use to prevent or reduce pollution. Think of it as using the most effective and advanced methods available to protect our planet. It's not just about fancy machines; it also includes how a factory is designed, built, run, and even taken apart.

The idea of "best available" changes over time. What we consider "best" today might be even better tomorrow as new technologies are invented and our understanding of environmental protection grows. While it sounds like companies should spend unlimited money, in reality, the cost of these technologies is also considered. This concept is often discussed alongside the precautionary principle, which means taking action to prevent harm even if there's no full scientific proof yet.

How BAT Started

The idea of using the "best practicable means" to control pollution first appeared in laws in the United Kingdom. For example, it was mentioned in the Salmon Fishery Act 1861, which was about protecting fish. Later, in 1874, it was used in the Alkali Act to control pollution from chemical factories.

In Europe, the term "best available techniques not entailing excessive costs" (BATNEEC) was introduced in 1984. This was a step towards making sure industries used good pollution control methods without going bankrupt. The simpler term, BAT, was first used in 1992 in the OSPAR Convention, an agreement to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic Ocean from industrial pollution.

In the United States, similar ideas to BAT are found in important laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, which aim to keep our air and water clean.

BAT in the European Union

The European Union (EU) uses BAT to control pollution from large industrial sites. This started with a directive (a type of EU law) in 1984 and has been updated several times, most recently with the Industrial Emissions Directive in 2010. This directive makes sure that big factories, from ceramic makers to wood processing plants, control their pollution into the air, water, and soil.

To help industries understand what BAT means for them, special guidebooks called BREFs are created. These BREFs are put together by experts from EU countries, industries, and environmental groups. They describe the best ways to operate different types of factories to reduce pollution. The most important parts of these BREFs are called "BAT conclusions," and they are used to set the rules for how much pollution a factory is allowed to release.

Controlling Pollution with BAT

When a factory gets a permit to operate, the rules for how much pollution it can release are based on BAT. The goal is to prevent pollution, or at least reduce it as much as possible, to protect the environment.

Here's what "best available techniques" means in the EU:

• Techniques: This isn't just about the machines used. It also includes how a factory is designed, built, kept in good condition, operated, and even taken apart when it's no longer needed.
• Available: This means the techniques are developed enough to be used in real factories. They must be practical and make sense economically, considering the costs and benefits. It doesn't matter if the technique was developed in that specific country or somewhere else, as long as it's reasonably easy for the factory to get and use.
• Best: This means the technique is the most effective at protecting the environment as a whole.

BAT for Food and Drink Industries

As an example, there are specific BREFs for the food, drink, and milk industries in the EU. These detailed documents, which can be over a thousand pages long, explain the best ways for these industries to operate to reduce their environmental impact. They include lots of information, tables, and diagrams to guide companies.

BAT in United States Environmental Law

The United States also uses the concept of BAT in its environmental laws.

Clean Air Act

The Clean Air Act requires certain large facilities to use Best Available Control Technology to limit the pollution they release into the air. This means they must use the best methods and systems to reduce each pollutant, considering things like energy use, environmental impact, and costs.

Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act sets rules for how much pollution industries can release into water. These rules are based on the "best available technology economically achievable." This means finding the best technology that is also affordable for that type of industry. When deciding what the "best available technology" is, factors like the age of the equipment, the processes used, and the cost of reducing pollution are all considered.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies a "model" technology for an industry. Then, they create a performance standard, usually a number that limits how much pollution can be discharged. Factories can use any technology they want, as long as they meet this standard.

The Clean Water Act also requires that structures that take in water for cooling (like at power plants) use the "best technology available" to minimize harm to the environment.

BAT Around the World

The idea of BAT is also used in many international agreements. For example, the Minamata Convention on Mercury uses it to control mercury pollution, and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants uses it to manage dangerous chemicals. The OSPAR Convention also uses BAT to protect the marine environment in the North-East Atlantic.

See also

• Appropriate technology
• Best Available Control Technology
• Lowest Achievable Emissions Rate