Federal Department of the Environment,
Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
An overview onSwissPRTRPollutant Release and Transfer Register
May 2009
Division Substances, Soil, Biotechnology
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Definition and Scope
The SwissPRTR isSwitzerland’s publiclyaccessible Pollutant Releaseand Transfer Register
It provides information
•on releases of specificpollutants to air, water orland
•on transfers of waste
•on transfers of pollutants inwaste water
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Benefits for the public
The SwissPRTR …
•creates transparency and allows the identification ofnational, regional and local correlations
•creates environmental awareness, facilitatesparticipation in environment-related decision-makingand encourages communication
•helps to reduce releases of pollutants and thusprovides sustainable support to the precautionaryprinciple
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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 toemployees and the general public
•the sustainable development of production facilities
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Benefits for authorities
The SwissPRTR is …
•the basis for devising long-term strategies andinstruments for the control of releases of pollutantsas well as transfers of waste and of pollutants inwaste water
•a management instrument that contributes to thesustainable management of pollutant releases,transfers of waste and transfers of pollutants inwaste water
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Reported datafrom facilities
Calculated datafrom authorities
Point sources and diffuse sources
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
SwissPRTR - History
Pre-Pilot Study 1997
Pilot Study 2000/2001
UNECE Protocol on PollutantRelease and Transfer Registers2003
Ordinance on PRTR 2006
Internet-based database 2008
1:1
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
SwissPRTR Working Group
•Representatives from
•Industry
•Associations
•NGOs
•National and regionalauthorities
•Two meetings per year
•Contributed to …
•Ordinance on PRTR
•Training anddocumentation
•Software and datahandling
Pilot Study
KievProtocol
Ordinance
Data entry
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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 andbeverage sector
9.Other industrial activities (textiles, printing, surfacetreatment)
Waste incineration plant
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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 hazardouswaste > 2 t
Waste water treatment plant
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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 facilities6
Data validation by regional authorities3
Data validation by federal authorities3
Data export for public database1-3
Facility
Canton
Public PRTR
FOEN
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Schedule
2008
2008
2009
2009
2010
2010
Q1
Q1
Q4
Q4
Q3
Q3
Q2
Q2
Q1
Q1
Q4
Q4
Q3
Q3
Q2
Q2
Q1
Q1
Q4
Q4
Q3
Q3
Q2
Q2
Reporting Period
Reporting Period
Data validation by authorities
Data validation by authorities
Publication on the internet
Publication on the internet
Data entry by companies
Data entry by companies
Public access 10 years
Public access 10 years
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Access for the public: explanations
•Glossary for pollutantsand technical terms
•Explanation of registerand data in „FAQ“
•Comments on actualdata, changes andtrends
•General information onthe purpose of the PRTR
Internet site and printed flyer
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Results in tables
Selection by filters
Data table, can besorted
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Software for geographical search
Map for selection
Overview table forselected area;with links to datatable
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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 informationdissemination using PRTRs“
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Introduction SwissPRTR May 2009Ch. Moor
Contacts SwissPRTR
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, CH- 3003 Bern
Prof. Dr. Georg Karlaganis
Georg.Karlaganis@bafu.admin.ch Tel. +41 79 415 99 62
Dr. Christoph Moor
Christoph.Moor@bafu.admin.ch Tel. +41 31 322 93 84
Homepage: www.environment-switzerland.ch/swissprtr
Helpmail: swissprtr@bafu.admin.ch