Best Available Techniques (BAT) for Preventing and Controlling Industrial Pollution ‑ Activity 7: Cross Country Analysis of selected BREFs for Iron‑Steel, Paper‑Pulp and Waste incineration sectors

Industrial facilities have a significant impact on the environment due to their use of large amounts of raw materials and energy, resulting in the release of pollutants into the air, water and soil. These facilities are obligated to adhere to various regulatory requirements, including emission levels and environmental quality objectives at the local level. This report provides a cross-country analysis of Best Available Techniques Reference Documents (BREFs) for three industrial sectors: iron and steel, paper and pulp, and waste incineration. It examines six BREFs from different countries and organisations, such as China, India, South Korea, the US, the EU, and the World Bank. The information gathered from various jurisdictions may help and support countries in developing sector-specific BREFs. Furthermore, this comparative analysis can identify areas for potential harmonisation between countries and highlight aspects of the BREFs that may require expansion or updating to better address environmental impact considerations.