POLLUTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES (PPGs)

Pollution Prevention Guidelines (PPGs) are jointly produced by the Environment Agency for England and Wales, the Environment and Heritage Service for Northern Ireland, and, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.  

This guidance is issued as practical guidance to help companies implement measures to prevent pollution occurring in a number of different scenarios.  All guidance should be considered within the context of each individual site. PPGs are also issued with the following caveat from the Regulators: 

Following these guidelines doesn’t remove your responsibility to comply with the law and prevent pollution from your activities. Causing or allowing pollution is a criminal offence: compliance with this or any guidance isn’t a defence. You should make sure that the references to other sources of guidance are still current; use updated guidance if it exists.

• PPG 1 General guide to the prevention of pollution 
• PPG 2 Above ground oil storage tanks
• PPG 3 Use and design of oil separators in surface water drainage systems
• PPG 4 Treatment and disposal of sewage where no foul sewer is available 
• PPG 5 Works and maintenance in or near water 
• PPG 6 Working at construction and demolition sites
• PPG 7 Refuelling facilities
• PPG8 Safe storage and disposal of used oils
• PPG 13 Vehicle washing and cleaning 
• PPG18 Managing fire water and major spillages
• PPG20 Dewatering underground ducts and chambers
• PPG 21 Pollution incident response planning
• PPG22 Dealing with spills
• PPG26 Storage and handling of drums and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs)
• PPG27 Installation, decommissioning and removal of underground storage tanks
• PPG 28 Controlled Burn Tactics
• Oil separator manufacturers
• Food and drink manufacturing industry: environmental management toolkit
• British Marine Federation: environmental code of practice 

Note that the following PPGs have recently been withdrawn:

• PPG 10 Highway depots
• PPG 11 Industrial sites
• PPG 14 Marinas and crafts
• PPG 15 Retail shops
• PPG 16 Schools and other educational establishments
• PPG17 Dairies and other milk handling operations
• PPG 19 Garages and vehicle service centres
• PPG 23 Maintenance of structures over water
• PPG24 Stables, Kennels, Catteries

In England and Wales, you should use the Environment Agency's 'Is your site right?' checklist instead of these withdrawn PPGs.

Applicability

Fabricated examples should be review the PPGs and implement relevant guidance. The following PPGs are noted as being particularly relevant to activities on site:

• PPG 1 General guide to the prevention of pollution
• PPG 2 Above ground oil storage tanks
• PPG 3 Use and design of oil separators in surface water drainage systems
• PPG8 Safe storage and disposal of used oils
• PPG18 Managing fire water and major spillages
• PPG 21 Pollution incident response planning
• PPG26 Storage and handling of drums and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs)

Related Aspects
Flooding