Air Quality

Our ports are statutory ports and are generally obliged to handle any lawful cargo, subject to operational constraints.  This means that our ports handle a number of cargoes that are known to have a potential impact on air quality, such as grain, chemicals and coal, through the creation of dust.  The potential impacts of our operations on air quality are, therefore, an important aspect of environmental management within our ports.

In addition to complying with all the legal requirements that relate to the handling of specific cargoes, we are working to improve the handling and storage of cargoes that can affect air quality.  Measures, such as damping down and ‘profiling’ – whereby commodities are stacked and stored in a shape which reduces the effects of the wind – are employed where appropriate.  We are also investing in new infrastructure and equipment, such as covered-conveyor belts, to minimise the amount of cargo that is lost to the atmosphere, as well as reducing the threat to air quality.  Where appropriate, we advocate the planting of conifers, sycamores, poplars and hawthorns to create ‘tree screens’ which provide further mitigation.

To see the legislation that governs our management of air quality in the ports and how we have translated this into environment policy objectives, refer to the Air Quality page in the Legislation section.