Making a clean break with the past; GO GREEN sponsored by Environment Agency Clear air, clean rivers and unpolluted countryside are now hallmarks of the North East, but this was not always the case. AMY HUNT found out about the workers who keep our region clean.

Byline: AMY HUNT

THE banks of the Tyne are no longer black and smog-ridden skies above the North East are a thing of the past.

This is largely down to a team of Environment Agency staff which monitors major industry such as power stations, oil refineries, paper mills and chemical works.

The Environment Protection Act 1990 was a turning point in cutting air pollution. Since then, EA process industry regulation (PIR) officers have been working with companies on upgrades and improvements to make sure their sites are operating as efficiently and cleanly as possible.

If firms do not toe the line they risk being taken to court and fined or shut down. The aim is to make sure factories are not pumping out gases or liquid waste which may pollute the air or water and are keeping their carbon emissions to a minimum.

And for businesses, it has the benefit of making their operations more efficient, which could save them money.

Bill Miller, PIR officer, said: "The regulations aren't there to close down industry, they are there to help it. However, if they are polluting and will not mend their ways we will close them down.

"The vast majority of operators realise that the rules are there and are prepared to sit down and discuss them. But if the cooperation isn't there we have legal powers.

"If the regulations weren't there we would go back to the position we were in 40 years ago when air quality was much worse than it is today.

"Process industry also used to contribute to pollution into rivers and estuaries and that has improved to the extent that the Tyne is one of the best salmon rivers in the UK. People don't seem to remember how bad it was."

One of the plants which the Environment Agency monitors is the Alcan aluminium smelter at Lynemouth, Northumberland.

The huge site has its own power station to produce the vast amounts of energy it needs.

As a result of discussions with the EA, furnaces have been rebuilt. This has resulted in energy savings of 30%.

Around pounds 20m has been invested in the power station to cut emissions and improve efficiency to 40%, making it the most efficient coal-fired power station in the UK.

Biomass is being used to power it, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, along with low-sulphur coal to cut sulphur dioxide emissions, and the company is looking at the possibility of increasing the proportion of biomass being used.

John Clarkson, UK environmental manager for Alcan, said: "What we're trying to do is move our business forward in a sustainable manner. Over the years we have increased our aluminium output but we have done it in a way which has delivered emissions reductions.

"Reduction of greenhouse gases remain a priority along with further reductions of fluoride emissions from the smelter and reduction of emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and dust."

The Environment Agency is keen to hear from the public if they believe there is a problem with a firm near where they live. Bill Miller said: "The public can be our eyes and ears."

Call 0800 80 70 60 to report a problem.

CAPTION(S):

FORWARD-LOOKING: Companies like Alcan are leading the way; PROBLEM: This 1980s image showing plastic and other debris by the Tyne in Newcastle is a reminder of how polluted it was until recently