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 2009 Ch. 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 2009 Ch. 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 2009 Ch. 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 2009 Ch. 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 2009 Ch. Moor Reported data from facilities Calculated data from authorities Point sources and diffuse sources

7 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009 Ch. 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 :1

8 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009 Ch. 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 Pilot StudyKiev Protocol OrdinanceData entry

9 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009 Ch. 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 2009 Ch. 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 2009 Ch. Moor Data handling The facilities enter the data into internet database. The facilities are responsible for the data quality. months Data entry by facilities6 Data validation by regional authorities3 Data validation by federal authorities3 Data export for public database1-3 Facility Canton Public PRTR FOEN

12 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009 Ch. Moor Schedule Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Reporting Period Data validation by authorities Publication on the internet Data entry by companies Public access 10 years

13 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009 Ch. 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 2009 Ch. Moor Database query: selection by… Year Facility and Owner Localization Field of activity demo

15 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009 Ch. Moor Results in tables Selection by filters Data table, can be sorted

16 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009 Ch. Moor Software for geographical search Map for selection Overview table for selected area; with links to data table

17 Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009 Ch. 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 2009 Ch. Moor Contacts SwissPRTR Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, CH Bern Prof. Dr. Georg Karlaganis Tel Dr. Christoph Moor Tel Homepage: Helpmail: