Pollution Inventory boosts efforts to cut NPE discharges

The Environment Agency's new Pollution Inventory has collated information on discharges of nonyl phenol ethoxylates (NPEs) for the first time. The exercise has proved highly educational for both industry and the Agency - and embarrassing to the regulator after unearthing two major discharges of the chemicals which had apparently eluded its integrated pollution control (IPC) inspectors. Despite different perceptions of the environmental impacts of NPEs, most companies appear to be making efforts to reduce discharges and switch to alternatives.