Federal Department of the Environment,Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
An overview on SwissPRTR
Pollutant Release and Transfer Register
May 2009
Division Substances, Soil, Biotechnology
2 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Definition and Scope
The SwissPRTR is Switzerland’s publicly accessible Pollutant Release and Transfer Register
It provides information • on releases of specific
pollutants to air, water or land
• on transfers of waste• on transfers of pollutants in
waste water
3 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Benefits for the public
The SwissPRTR …• creates transparency and allows the identification of
national, regional and local correlations
• creates environmental awareness, facilitates participation in environment-related decision-making and encourages communication
• helps to reduce releases of pollutants and thus provides sustainable support to the precautionary principle
4 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Benefits for industrial facilities
The SwissPRTR contributes to …• creating transparency
• providing a basis for management decisions
• improving eco-efficiency and productivity
• compliance with social responsibilities in relation to employees and the general public
• the sustainable development of production facilities
5 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Benefits for authorities
The SwissPRTR is …• the basis for devising long-term strategies and
instruments for the control of releases of pollutants as well as transfers of waste and of pollutants in waste water
• a management instrument that contributes to the sustainable management of pollutant releases, transfers of waste and transfers of pollutants in waste water
6 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Releases to air
Recording releases from facilities(specific sources)
Recording releases from many small and scattered sources (diffuse sources)
Releases to land Releases to water
Reported data from facilities
Calculated data from authorities
Point sources and diffuse sources
7 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
SwissPRTR - History
Pre-Pilot Study 1997
Pilot Study 2000/2001
UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers 2003
Ordinance on PRTR 2006
Internet-based database 2008
1:1
8 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
SwissPRTR Working Group
• Representatives from • Industry • Associations• NGOs• National and regional
authorities
• Two meetings per year
• Contributed to …• Ordinance on PRTR• Training and
documentation• Software and data
handling
Working Group Members
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
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9 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Who has to report?
1. Energy industries
2. Production and processing of metals
3. Mineral industry
4. Chemicals industry
5. Waste and waste water management
6. Paper and wood production and processing
7. Intensive livestock production and acquaculture
8. Animal and vegetable products from the food and beverage sector
9. Other industrial activities (textiles, printing, surface treatment)
Waste incineration plant
10 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
What has to be reported?
1. Releases of 86 pollutants (listed on next page)• into air• into water• into soils
2. Transfer of 86 pollutants in waste water
3. Transfer of waste >2000 t
4. Transfer of hazardous waste > 2 t
Waste water treatment plant
11 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Data handling
The facilities enter the data into internet database. The facilities are responsible for the data quality.
months
Data entry by facilities 6Data validation by regional authorities 3Data validation by federal authorities 3Data export for public database 1-3
Facility CantonPublic PRTR
FOEN
12 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Schedule20082008 20092009 20102010
Q1Q1 Q4Q4Q3Q3Q2Q2 Q1Q1 Q4Q4Q3Q3Q2Q2 Q1Q1 Q4Q4Q3Q3Q2Q2
Reporting PeriodReporting Period
Data validation by authoritiesData validation by authorities
Publication on the internetPublication on the internet
Data entry by companiesData entry by companies
Public access 10 yearsPublic access 10 years
13 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Access for the public: explanations
• Glossary for pollutants and technical terms
• Explanation of register and data in „FAQ“
• Comments on actual data, changes and trends
• General information on the purpose of the PRTR
Internet site and printed flyer
14 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Database query: selection by…
Year
Facility and Owner
Localization
Field of activity
demo
15 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Results in tables
Selection by filters
Data table, can be sorted
16 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Software for geographical search
Map for selection
Overview table for selected area;with links to data table
17 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
PRTR as an international commitment
Switzerland takes part in the following bodies:• UNECE Working group on PRTRs• International PRTR Coordinating Group (UNITAR,
UNEP, UNECE)• OECD Task force on PRTRs• Steering committee for the UNITAR Project
„POPs monitoring, reporting and information dissemination using PRTRs“
18 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Contacts SwissPRTR
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, CH- 3003 Bern Prof. Dr. Georg Karlaganis [email protected] Tel. +41 79 415 99 62
Dr. Christoph [email protected] Tel. +41 31 322 93 84
Homepage: www.environment-switzerland.ch/swissprtr
Helpmail: [email protected]