Waste
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide pigment (TiO 2) is a white powder with high
opacity and brilliant whiteness. These properties have made it
a valuable pigment and opacifier for a broad range of applications
in paints, plastic goods, inks and paper. Titanium dioxide is
also used in many white or coloured products, including food,
cosmetics, UV skin protection products, ceramics and rubber products.
Titanium dioxide pigments are made from two chemical processes:
the sulphate or the chloride process. The chloride process produces
titanium dioxide products by reacting titanium ores with chlorine
gas. The sulphate process produces titanium dioxide products by
reacting titanium ores with sulphuric acid. 70% of the European
production is from the sulphate process and 30% from the chloride
process.
The waste arising from the titanium dioxide production cover
solid waste, strong acid waste, weak acid waste, neutralised waste,
treatment waste and dust.
Legislation
Existing Community legislation on waste from the titanium dioxide
industry aims to prevent and progressively reduce pollution caused
by waste from the titanium dioxide industry with a view to the
elimination of such pollution. It also seeks to harmonise laws
on waste from the titanium dioxide industry in order to avoid
distortion of competition within the internal market.
Three different Directives introduce rules on (i) disposal (Council
Directive 78/176/EEC), (ii) monitoring and surveillance (Council
Directive 82/883/EEC) and (iii) programs for the reduction
of pollution (Council Directive 92/112/EEC).
Council Directive 78/176/EEC
Council Directive 82/883/EEC
Council Directive 92/112/EEC
Simplification of the Titanium Dioxide Directives
Since the Titanium Dioxide Directives are more than 15 years
old, they could - in line with the Commission's Action plan "Simplifying
and improving the regulatory environment" (*) -- be candidates
for simplification.
The Commission consulted interested parties on a draft working
document prepared for the simplification. The draft working document
and specific questions for the stakeholder consultation can be
found here.
List of responses to the stakeholder consultation:
Following the consultations held on the simplification of the Titanium Dioxide Directives the Commission proposed to include the simplified provisions of the three TiO2 Directives in to the revised IPPC Directive. ( http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/pollutants/stationary/ippc/proposal.htm )
Studies
Analysis for the simplification of the Titanium Dioxide Directives
Updates and Further Information
Here you will find information on how to place yourself on a
mailing list to be notified when this site is updated or there
are new developments in legislation on waste from the titanium
dioxide industry and on how to contact the European Commission
with further questions.
(*) Communication from the Commission of 5.6.2002, COM (2002)278
final, which is part of the Better Lawmaking Packaging, see /governance/suivi_lb_en.htm.
|