WE OBTAINED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT
After a demanding procedure we obtained on 25th November 2009 the environmental permit from the Environmental agency of the Republic of Slovenia.
Why do we need this permit?
First, because we have among our production facilities a plant for the production of synthetic resins, which falls within the list of industries that should have according to so-called European Directive IPPC environmental permit. In addition, there are at Helios's location so many dangerous chemicals that we are ranked among production plants of higher risk and this means that only general safety measures are not sufficient but we must have a safety managing system set up and the confirmed Safety report by the Ministry for environment and spatial planning. The permit is also required for the emissions into the air and water, which in our country are regularly monitored by the laboratories approved by the Ministry for Environment and spatial planning. We also have a smaller plant for the processing of waste solvents, that operates for the requirements of Helios TBLUS, to a lesser extent it also performs processing services for external customers.
Platform
Already since 2000 we have started at Helios to adapt to the requirements of European directives and legislative reforms in Slovenia. Today our technologies are tailored to the appropriate storage capacities for hazardous chemicals, we have good infrastructure, the sewage system and the energy supply, fire protection, ongoing activities to reduce emissions in air and water and protect soil and groundwater.
In parallel, the changes in the development field are going on, following the development of new ecologically appropriate products (paint with low solvent content, water-based paints etc.).
At all the changes that often required investment inputs, we took into account the requirements of the international reference standards, which are collected in the BREF documents like.: production of polymers, cooling systems, monitoring, emissions from the storage of raw materials, energy efficiency. These documents describe the best available techniques (NRT-techniques). These are techniques that are available on the market and provide the effects of lower environmental impact. Likewise, it was necessary to take into account all belonging environmental legislation of the Republic of Slovenia.
The actions
Environmental management in accordance with standard ISO 14001 is one of the NRT techniques and its most important component.
The systematic management in areas of environmental managing began in Helios in 2002 when we acquired ISO 14001 certificate. In the frame of environmental planning number of investments were realized in these years in the value of almost 6 mio EUR:
- Construction of new storage facilities with associated infrastructure, having regard to the use of NRT techniques recommended in these standards in BREF,
- Construction of new underground storage tank and reconstruction of old cistern warehouse (taking into account an appropriate platform for pouring of hazardous substances by pumps and protective mechanisms against pouring over),
- Regulation of tight polyethylene sewage network, separate technological and faecal sewage and storm water baffled from the roofs of buildings in the pits,
- Construction of new fire-fighting system with 1000m3 pool fire water,
- Construction of sewage treatment plant for waste water for plant of construction coatings,
- Reducing and capturing emissions of volatile organic substances in the air from all plants in a common system,
- Installation equipment for cleaning of volatile organic compounds with one of the NRT techniques called regenerative thermal oxidation (RTO),
- Regulation of the cooling system for the cooling plant in pigmented coatings,
- Waste water treatment plant of water-based coatings.
Within the environmental management system the main activities were focused on:
- reduction in water consumption,
- reduction of waste water,
- reduction of energy consumption,
- reduction in emissions of volatile substances into the air,
- reduction of waste for disposal,
- to increase the quantities of waste collected for recycling (paper, plastic).
Results
By 2007 we have given the strong emphasis on reducing environmental impact, particularly in the field of soil and groundwater protection, water use, waste water , reducing them, the emission of organic solvents and the generation of hazardous waste. We found that to further reduce all types of environmental pressures, particularly in light of long-term planning, we have an appropriate tool, which covers all environmental impacts throughout Helios TBLUS. Therefore, we in the environmental management system in accordance with the requirements of ISO 14001 framework set measurable objectives and measurable implementation objectives. Our work was in this period focused primarily in the management of energy consumption (electricity, natural gas, water), reducing air emissions (organic solvents), and reducing the formation of all types of waste.
By investing in the modernization of technological processes and other measures we have in the period from 2003 to 2008 succeeded to:
- Reduce the amount of disposed waste by 16.6% per ton of product
- Reduce water consumption by 6.7% per ton of product
- Reduce energy consumption by 11.2% per ton of product
- Reduce the amount of waste water for cleaning at the central treatment plant Domžale - Kamnik by 65.6%
- Increase the amount of waste collected for recycling (paper, plastic) by 74.2% per ton of product.
All these efforts have a positive impact on improving our environmental consciousness.
With the introduction of cleaner technologies we have raised the technological level of production, allowing the company higher revenues and the social security of employees.
How to proceed
All requirements from the standpoint of legislation are met. The content of permit defines for the exactly defined volume and type of production limit values of emissions into the environment and conditions for functioning, which refer to safety of functioning and procedures to prevent contamination of larger extent.
Obtained environmental permit is for us only one of the foundations, which defines all environmental activities in the next 10 year period. Due to the rapid development of state of techniques and materials in the area of chemical industry we expect in the next years very dynamic business operations, with constant adjusting to new environmental requirements. Since Helios ranked among its values a fair, open and loyal relationship to the public and individuals interested, we will continue to strive to maintain and upgrade management system approach in the area of environmental protection to the benefit of all employees, narrow and wider social community.
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