Environmental

CCME recognizes the importance of continuous improvement in mercury emission reductions because of the toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative nature of this pollutant in order to protect not only fish and wildlife, but also human health. CCME is committed to reducing mercury releases to the environment. CCME developed Canada-wide Standards (CWSs) for mercury emissions from base-metal smelters, waste incinerators, coal-fired power plants as well as mercury-containing lamps and dental amalgam waste.

Properly designed and operated incineration systems are capable of destroying the hazardous organic components of a waste stream. On the Other hand, the improper design and operation of these systems could pose a threat to public health through emissions of hazardous and other contaminants including acid gases, metals and organics.
The inherent advantages of the thermal destruction of waste, balanced against the potential problems resulting from such practice, have led to the need to develop sound design and operating criteria for hazardous waste incineration facilities.